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PAW TUCKET 
PAST AND PRESENT 

BEING 

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BEGINNING 

AND PROGRESS OF ITS INDUSTRIES AND 

A RESUME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF 

THE CITY 




Printed for 

SLATER TRUST COMPANY 

Pawtucket, R. I. 

1917 



Copyrighted, 1917, 

BY 

Slater Trust Company 

BC|6? 

.T3 56 



The 

ornament 

on the cover-page is 

drawn from a photograph of 

Main Street, looking east, about 1865. 

The vignette on the title-page shows Pawtucket Falls 

and Main Street Bridge about i860. The headpiece at the beginning 

of the subject matter is drawn from a reproduction of the 

Central Falls in 1870. The tailpiece 

is a reproduction from the 

lock and keys of the 

Old Slater 

Mill 



/ 



IC1.A453774 



Written, designed and printed by direction of the 

Walton Advertising and Printing Company 

Boston, Mass. 




FOR EWORD 



THE Slater Trust Company takes pleasure in presenting to those 
interested in Pawtucket this brief account of "Pawtucket Past 
and Present." It hopes that it will be interesting, not only to 
the business men and the manufacturers of Pawtucket, but also 
to all who are interested in the city. So far as the space of a brochure 
permits, herein may be found an account of the Pawtucket of the 
past and also a presentation of the industries which have made it 
to-day one of the great manufacturing centres of America. 

Few even of the residents of Pawtucket are aware that the city is 
the home of so many diversified industries. Many of those beyond 
its borders, and some residents, perhaps, think of it only as a textile 
centre, and know little of the other great industries, particularly those 
making products of metals, for which Pawtucket should be as famous 
as it is for its textile products. If this small book makes Pawtucket 
better known it will accomplish the purpose of the bank in issuing it. 
We hope that the city by means of this brochure will become better 
known to those who live here and elsewhere, and whose sole connection 
with Pawtucket springs from a business relationship through buying 
its products or selling it supplies. We know this is not a complete 
presentation of Pawtucket's story — a full account would be impossible 
to compass in several volumes, but the bank has endeavored in so 
far as space permits to make this brochure complete and trustworthy. 
Among those who have helped in the preparation of the book are 
Mr. William D. Goddard, Librarian, and Miss Gertrude F. Forrester 
of the Sayles Public Library, Pawtucket; William E. Foster, Librarian, 
Miss Frances V. Heltzen, and Miss. Bessie Alden of the Providence 
Public Library; the Boston Public; Library, the Rhode Island His- 
torical Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society, Mrs. Herbert 
Gould Beede, Mrs. George H. Webb, Mrs. Joseph Ott, Mr. Job L. 
Spencer, Mr. Lyman Goff, Mr. Charles O. Read, Mr. Albert J. 
Thornley, Mr. H. C. Whritner, Mr. John W. Little, Mr. Joseph 
Brennan, Mr. William L. Gidley, Mr. Clovis H. Bowen, Mr. George H. 
Webb, Mr. Herbert G. Beede, Mr. J. H. Conrad, Mr. E. B. Searll, Mr. 
William J. Burton, Mr. J. Willard Baker, Mr. Frederick W. Easton, 
Mr. William P. Dempsey, Mr. Lowell Emerson, Mr. Charles S. Foster, 
Mr. F. L. Perkins, Dr. J. L. Wheaton. 

In its compilation the following authorities have been consulted: 
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, Edward Field; 
History of Providence County, Richard M. Bayles; Memoir of Samuel 
Slater, George S. White; Historical Sketch of the Town of Pawtucket, 
Massena Goodrich; Pawtucket and the Slater Centennial, Massena 
Goodrich; History of Pawtucket, Central Falls and Vicinity, Robert 
Grieve; The Cotton Centennial, Robert Grieve and John P. Fernald; 



FOREWORD 



The Textile Industries in the United States, William R. Bagnall; 
The New England States, William T. Davis; The Story of Textiles, 
Perry Walton; Interesting Boston Events, State Street Trust Com- 
pany, Boston; Genealogy of the Jenks Family, Ida Jenks Beede 
(Unpublished manuscript); History of Rehoboth, Leonard Bliss, Jr.; 
Picturesque Rhode Island, Wilfred H. Munro; Reminiscences of 
Rhode Island and Ye Providence Plantations, Isaac Pitman Noyes; 
Representatives of New England Manufactures, J. D. Van Slyck; 
History of American Manufactures, Leander Bishop; North Provi- 
dence Centennial — address delivered by Massena Goodrich; In- 
dustrial Life in Rhode Island, William B. Weeden; Journal of Com- 
merce Guide Book, published by Journal of Commerce, Providence; 
Introduction and Early Progress of the Cotton Manufacture in the 
United States, Samuel Batchelder; Cotton Manufacture, Massena 
Goodrich; Slater Mills at Webster, published by S. Slater & Sons; 
History of the State of Rhode Island, Samuel Greene Arnold; Pictu- 
resque Narragansett, Robert Grieve; History of the Nut and Bolt 
Industry, W. R. Wilbur; Annual Report of Factory Inspection Rhode 
Island; A Hive of Diversified Industries, Robert A. Kenyon; Bio- 
graphical History of the Manufacturers and Business Men of Rhode 
Island, Joseph D. Hall, Jr.; Pawtucket Gazette and Chronicle; Paw- 
tucket Times; Providence Journal; Boston Globe; Lewiston Journal; 
New England Magazine; Board of Trade Journal, Providence; Ameri- 
can Cotton and Wool Reporter; Textile American; Brown Daily Herald; 
Rhode Island Historical Society Proceedings; Census Bureau's Sum- 
mary for 1914; Rhode Island Historical Society's Tracts; Report on 
the Archives of Rhode Island, Clarence S. Brigham. 

The Slater Trust Company hopes that you will find "Pawtucket 
Past and Present" interesting as well as instructive and also that you 
will deem this little brochure not unworthy of a permanent place in 
your library. 

Copies may be obtained until the supply is exhausted by calling 
upon, or addressing, 



SLATER TRpST COMPANY 
Pawtucket, R.I. 



January, 191 7. 



THE OLD SLATER MILL 

Built by Samuel Slater in 
1793. Reproduction of a sketch 
made by H. L. Spencer, whose 
grandfather, Gideon L. Spencer, 
worked in the mill. From the 
collection of Job L. Spencer 



!*-■' 






JSESLT-"^*- 




: ? W-;:..»;'f;J%v..' ■ :■. ' 







THE OLD SLATER 
MILL AFTER 
ALTERATIONS 

From a print in the 
collection of Job L. 
Spencer 








THE OLD SLATER MILL AS IT IS TO-DAY 
From a photograph taken for the Slater Trust Company 





PAWTUCKET 

PAST AND PRESENT 




Bull 



ILENCE, deep, vast, and unbroken save for the 
sounds of the forest, brooded for centuries over a 
fall of water that dashed its way into a stream in 
the midst of a wilderness. Indians broke a trail 
thither, and tradition says they named the place 
Pawtucket, meaning the "place of the waterfall."' 
The waters abounded in fish; the redmen built wig- 
wams and speared the salmon which had found the foaming rapids 
insurmountable and had congregated in the pools at the foot of the 
falls. And, days of fever and famine being forgotten in the midst 
of this munificence, the Indians held their revels there. 

The man who was destined to name the river that flows through William 
Pawtucket rode down from Massachusetts to Rhode Island on a Blackstone 
brindled bull. His name was William Blackstone; and he settled \n an( {his 
1623 on the peninsula of Shawmut, where Boston now is. After the „ „ ^ 
arrival of Winthrop at Charlestown in 1630, Blackstone invited him 
to bring to Shawmut his company, which was rapidly dying because 
of the poor water supply. Soon Blackstone's peaceful peninsula 
became too crowded for him, and the religious dissensions too boresome. 
So he mounted his bovine steed, and came to Rhode Island, explaining 
his course thus: — 

"I came from England because I did not like the Lords Bishops. 
I can't join you because I would not be under the Lords Brethren. I 
looked to have dwelt with my orchards and my books, and my young 
fawn and "my bull, in undisturbed solitude. Was there not room 
enough for all of ye? Could ye not leave the hermit in his corner?" 

In 1635 Blackstone settled at "Study Hill" in a place which the 
Indians called Wawepoonseag, now Lonsdale. He was a hermit; and 
the General Assembly of the Rhode Island Colony took measures, in 
answer to his petition in 1668, to protect him from the encroachments, 
of any "Lords Brethren" or others who might invade his premises. 
The Providence town records of 1671 have a reference concerning 
"Mr. Blackstone's river, " — the first time the name of the river as 
such is recorded. 

The first mention of Pawtucket in history is in connection with 
Roger Williams and an Indian chief. Williams gathered up his lares 
and penates in haste, and fled from the land of the witches (Salem,, 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

Massachusetts) in 1636, to avoid being seized and shipped back to 
England. According to the Salem authorities he was a heretic, and 
as such had no business in the Massachusetts Colony. To be beyond 
the reach of the long arm of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he 
settled in Providence. If Roger Williams ever viewed Pawtucket 
Falls, they were evidently not to his liking. He and the men who 
had come with him to Providence sought land suitable for farming 
and the pasturing of cattle. Pawtucket was wild. A great forest 
bordered it. Jagged ledges cut the banks of the stream; and such 
meadows as there were, were practically inaccessible. Miantonomi, 
a Narragansett chieftain, in his deed given to Williams granted 
the use of certain "meadows" up the stream of Pawtucket for a cow- 
pasture. The northern boundary of this territory was "the river 
and fields of Pawtucket," four miles from Providence. This is the 
first mention of Pawtucket in history, and the old_ deed probably 
refers to the land bordering the western bank of the river. 
p With a stage carefully set, having a luxuriant forest for a back- 

' UC First ground, a foaming waterfall and the music of the wild all about for 
Settler an orchestra, enters now on the scene the first settler. He was Joseph 
Jenks, Jr., who blazed a trail through the virgin forest straight to the 
Falls, and in 1655, by building a forge on the south side of the Falls, 
he still further set the stage for the drama of one of the world's great- 
est industrial centres. He took advantage of the industrial resources 
of the wilderness, and his business grew; and in time four sturdy 
sons, who became well-known men in Pawtucket, helped him. His 
frame-house, it is said, stood on the west side of East Avenue, over- 
looking the forge. Day by day, as Jenks's anvil awakened the echoes 
of the lofty forest, a village grew about the forge, and the power of 
the Blackstone River was gladly used by those first settlers. 

A score of years passed, and King Philip's War broke out. The 
little settlement of Pawtucket was scattered, its virgin forest black- 
ened by fire, and Joseph Jenks's forge destroyed by the Indians. 
Pierce's fight, one of the most disastrous engagements of the war, 
took place in what was then Rehoboth, but is now territory lying 
east of Pawtucket. The Indians had been committing great dep- 
redations throughout that part of the colony, and Captain Michael 
Pierce's company, composed of more than fifty English and a score 
of friendly Indians, were sent by the government at Plymouth to 
resist the invaders. Captain Pierce stopped at Rehoboth over 
night; and the following day, "having intelligence in his garrison 
at Seaconicke that a party of the enemy lay near Mr. Blackstone's, 
he went forth with 65 English and 20 Cape Indians." In the woods 
near by he found four or five Indians, who pretended to be lame. 
This proved to be a stratagem to draw the English farther into am- 
bush; and soon a large company of Indians, headed by Canonchet, 
a Narragansett chief, were discovered. 

Captain Pierce's command was surrounded by the enemy; and, 
as he began to retreat, the four hundred Indians closed in on him. 
The brave Englishman formed his men into a circle, each man four 
paces from the other, and thus presented in every direction a front 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



to the enemy. As a contemporary said, "Captain Pierce cast his 
men into a ring, and fought back to back, and were double-double 
distance all in one ring, whilst the Indians were as thick as they 
could stand thirty deep." For many hours Captain Pierce fought 
valiantly, his men in perfect order and the Indians at a good distance. 
He was finally slain, overpowered by the numbers of the enemy; 
and with him fell fifty-five English and ten Indians. The captain 
fell "earlier than many of the others." Amos, "one of the friendly 
Indians," had fought by his leader's side "until affairs had become 
utterly desperate," and then escaped by blackening his face with 
powder to imitate the enemy. Canonchet later, in attempting to 
leap from stone to stone near the bridge at Pawtucket Falls, slipped 
on a wet stone, fell, and was easily captured. Some of the same 
line of stone may be seen to-day at the Falls. The Indian paths 
converged at the Falls. Long before a bridge was erected the travel 
between Massachusetts and Rhode Island was facilitated by this 
crude stone path. 

King Philip's War ended, Joseph Jenks returned to Pawtucket 
and again established his forge. As time went on social and indus- 
trial ties grew up between Seekonk, on the Massachusetts side of 
the Falls, and Pawtucket, on the Rhode Island side, and bound 
closely the two sides of the river. The stepping-stones across the 
river served to cement the friendliness, and each community desired 
a bridge. Pawtucket had become a centre of trade and travel. In- 
deed, Washington Street in Boston led directly to Pawtucket; and 
so it does to-day, keeping its name all the way. 

Joseph Jenks, son of the first settler, who afterward became gov- 
ernor of Rhode Island, wrote to Governor Cranston, asking that a 
bridge might be placed at the Falls. The Assembly of the colony 
of Rhode Island found on investigation that the Falls were truly a 
very suitable place for a bridge; and so one of the earliest bridges in 
the country was built there in 171 3 at a cost of £223 14s. lid. Joseph 
Jenks may have superintended the construction. Massachusetts 
by a vote of her General Court paid one-half of the cost, and built a 
road leading to the bridge. Soon after trouble began, and the bridge 
for years was a bone of contention between the two States; for both 
Massachusetts and Rhode Island claimed all of the land west of the 
Providence and Blackstone Rivers. With a divided responsibility 
after a time the bridge got badly out of repair, and the records run 
that it was "a trap to endanger men's lives." Rhode Island accord- 
ingly called upon Massachusetts to help in the repairs. When the 
latter colony paid no heed to this appeal Rhode Island asked if 
Massachusetts would not at least help tear down the old bridge. 
To this the bigger colony responded half-heartedly, and some men 
were sent to demolish the "trap" that was endangering the lives of 
those who crossed it. The iron from the old bridge was sold, and 
the money received for it divided equally between the two colonies. 

So quarrelsome, however, did the neighbors become over the ques- 
tion of the land that the king was asked to settle the dispute, and 
he appointed commissioners from the northern colonies, including 



Captain 
Pierce and 
his Fight 
with the 
Indians in 
King 
Philip's 
War 



Building of 
the First 
Bridge over 
the Falls 






•~Ji 




PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

New York, New Jersey, and Nova Scotia, as well as the New England Massachu- 
colonies. The commission met and listened to, and maybe slept setts and 
through, long reports of surveyors. They examined records and Rhode Island 
charters. Innumerable lawyers — leading men of their day — argued dispute their 
the matter, and a decision in favor of Rhode Island was given. 
Neither colony was satisfied and, like veritable dogs in a manger, 
they growled until the king ordered them to be silent and commanded 
that the judgment of the court be adhered to. 

William Jenks, who helped to tear down the bridge, rebuilt it in Disagree- 
1735 and received £100 for his work; and as Massachusetts paid ment over 
half of this sum the colonies were again connected. The toll troubles the Second 
shortly after that began and the old boundary question was once f e 

more agitated. Tax collectors who were found on the disputed ter- r ™ c es a 
ritory were arrested and put in jail. An armed force came over from Q taae 
Massachusetts and arrested two Rhode Island men. Immediately 
a messenger was despatched to the governor and Massachusetts 
prisoners were taken by the Rhode Islanders. Providence prepared 
to take up arms over the matter. Legislative bodies argued the 
boundary question. It was finally agreed to lay the dispute before 
judges outside of both colonies; if the bodies failed to agree, the 
matter was to be brought before Parliament. Up to 1840, when 
the State of Rhode Island assumed the responsibility of bridge repairs, 
the bills were paid sometimes by the General Assembly and some- 
times by the town of North Providence, before the long-standing 
dispute concerning the boundaries between Rhode Island and Massa- 
chusetts was finally settled in i860, when the town of Pawtucket 
was ceded to Rhode Island. The change was consummated on March 
1, 1862. Fall River, Rhode Island, was given to Massachusetts in 
exchange for the greater portion of Pawtucket in Massachusetts 
and the western part of Seekonk, which was named East Providence 
after its annexation. 

The bridge was frequently the victim of freshets, three of which Disastrous 
are mentioned in "Nathaniel Jenks, Jr.'s Book": — Freshets 

"February ye 12 1732/3 The bridge at petucket falls was carried 
away with the ise. 

"January 23rd day 1738 The bridge at petucket falls went A 
Way ye 2 time. 

"January ye 14th 1741 ye bridge mill and shoups was carried A 
Way with ye flood of ise." 

The worst freshet that Pawtucket has ever known occurred on a 
Sunday in February, 1807, when the town was shocked by hearing 
the rush of waters near the bridge. The houses on the banks of the 
Blackstone River had always been thought high enough to shield 
them from destruction by the river in its swollen seasons. All night 
long the surging waters roared through the town. Families were hur- 
ried from their homes to places of safety as the angry flood seized shops 
and houses like straws and whirled them away. The cold gray light 
of Monday morning dawned upon the town. Some one called out: — 

"Turn out! Turn out! The water is running around Jerahmeel 
Jenks's stone wall!" 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection of Cliarles S. Foster 

VIEW BELOW THE FALLS LOOKING SOUTH ABOUT 1850 

Showing the Pardon Jenks carpenter shop on the rock at the right, with the Jesse Thornton 

lumber yard and Pawtucket landing below 

Incidents of Stephen Jenks, tall, commanding, aided in the rescue. A mother 
the Freshet an( j ^ er f or tnight-old baby were carried in a chair from a house 
°' about which already the water was dashing. 

John Pitcher with his daughter and little grandson stayed in his 
house until the Sunday evening before. The daughter, becoming 
frightened at the roar of water and crash of ice, said that she did not 
dare to stay in the house longer, especially as the connection with 
the western shore was cut off. 

"Let us go, father!" she pleaded. "The bridge yet stands, and 
we may cross. I fear this dreadful flood!" 

While her father hesitated, she hastily wrapped her baby in a shawl, 
and, springing to the door, ran toward the bridge and crossed its 
rocking planks. After leaving the baby on the other side, she snatched 
a lantern and returned for her father. She found him dazed by the 
noise of the water. 

"Come, father, come!" she said; and, crossing the rapidly tum- 
bling bridge, she led him safely to the other side. Hardly had they 
stepped there when masses of ice swept away the last remnant of the 
bridge. Fourteen buildings were lost that February, and no flood 
before or since has been more destructive. 

The industrial life of Pawtucket, begun by Joseph Jenks, Jr., in 
1655, was given a start in another direction when Samuel Slater in 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

1790 came from England, and successfully built the Arkwright models. ,1 
for cotton machinery. Slater's enterprise brought the attention ry , ami 
of two continents to Pawtucket, and contributed largely to the fame 
of the city. 

A half-century after Slater's arrival a political upheaval occurred in 
Rhode Island, known as the Dorr War. Thomas W. Dorr in 1841 
took the law into his own hands, and tried to obtain a more liberal 
form of government and an extension of suffrage. An episode of this 
time concerns Pawtucket, where, on account of the riots that were 
brewing, martial law was proclaimed. Mr. Gideon L. Spencer with 
two other men was given control of the town. Mr. Spencer's son, 
Job L. Spencer, who at the time of the Dorr War was about nine years 
old, recalls incidents of the riots: — 

" I remember we had twenty-odd soldiers to our house at supper ^emtnxs- 
shortly after martial law was proclaimed in the town and that I c * nces °J t " ,e 
went down to the bake-house for a basket of bread. There was a riot, 
in Seekonk; and father, who had never fired a gun, took one and 
went off towards the bridge. He spent most of that night driving 
into Providence for soldiers, being able each trip to bring four. It 
was a cold rainy night, and mother was dreadfully worried, not know- 
ing where father was nor how much damage the rioters were doing. 
She sat by the window all night and frequently from those who- 
objected to martial law she heard such remarks as 'Let's fire his barn!' 
meaning father's. 

"Captain Alvin Jenks headed the volunteer company and he con- 
stantly told his men, as brickbats flew from the Massachusetts side of 
the bridge right and left, 'Keep cool, boys, keep cool!' When some- 
thing hit him in the head, he called quick and sharp to his men, 'Fire, 
boys, fire!'" 

The document containing the signatures of the Pawtucket men who. 
volunteered to serve their town during this time was given by Mr. J. L. 
Spencer to the Daughters of the American Revolution for the Daggett 
house in Slater Park. 

The only bloodshed that occurred during the Dorr War took place 
in Pawtucket, when some of the militia fired into a crowd of rioters, 
and killed Alexander Kelby, who was not a participant in the trouble. 

March 27, 1885, Pawtucket was incorporated a city, with Frederic C. Pawtucket 
Sayles as the first mayor. Mr. Sayles was the brother and business, becomes 
partner of William F. Sayles and was a prominent citizen of the l 
town, having been a major of the Pawtucket Light Guard, which sent 
a great number of men into the Civil War. He was a director of the 
Slater National Bank, the first signer of a call for a Business Men's 
Association in Pawtucket, and later he became the first president of 
the organization. The Deborah Cook Sayles Public Library of 
Pawtucket was given to the city by Mr. Sayles in memory of his wife.. 

Since Pawtucket was incorporated a city, great strides have been 
taken by its industries. The tax list for 1916 gives a total valuation 
of $60,660,566. The value of products in 1914 was $42,020,000. The 
population of Pawtucket is 55,000. From year to year the increase 
in industry has been steady. No booms have occurred in the city s 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



The growth has been normal, and always steady. Pawtucket has 
been called " the city of diversified industries," and a remarkable fact 
concerning the city is its lack of unemployed men and women. If 
a certain industry is dull, there are always other industries ready to 
engage hands. The whole community is never unemployed. 

Of all the historic spots in Pawtucket, the Falls probably are the 
most interesting. The Slater Mill inspires a keen interest, and also 
the building where Samuel Slater established the first Sunday school 
in America. The old Daggett house in Slater Park, which dates from 
1685, has been purchased by the Daughters of the American Revolu- 
tion, who have collected and placed in it many articles of historic 
interest. 

With these brief glimpses of the growth of Pawtucket, we pass to 
the story of Pawtucket's industries. 



Growth of 
Pawtucket 



THE STORY OF THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN PAWTUCKET 

Pawtucket is the birthplace of cotton manufacture in America and 
Samuel Slater has been called "the father" of that industry. Slater 
was the son of a yeoman farmer of Belper, Derbyshire, England, 
where he was born, June 9, 1768. At the age of fourteen he was 
apprenticed to Jedediah Strutt, who with Sir Richard Arkwright had 
erected a factory at Milford, a short distance from Belper. Young 
Samuel Slater had received a fair education. He "wrote well and 
was quick at figures," — a fact which probably was the reason that his 
father placed him, instead of his elder brother, with Mr. Strutt. In 
this factory at Belper young Slater worked eight years, diligently 
applying himself to the business. He became superintendent in 
Strutt's mill where he gained a complete knowledge of the Arkwright 
machines. 

America in the mean time had no adequate machinery with which 
to manufacture cotton. American capitalists were eager to introduce 
the spinning of cotton by power here; but England, jealous of her 
industrial prestige, arrested any inventors or artisans who sailed to 
the United States. Every person leaving her shores was carefully 
searched. If models or plans were found, they were destroyed and 
the offenders imprisoned. 

Young Samuel Slater, having served his apprenticeship, looked 
eagerly toward America as a field offering great opportunities. He 
believed that in this country there were more chances for advance- 
ment than there were in England. In a Philadelphia paper he read 
an account of a bounty of £100 paid by the legislature of Pennsyl- 
vania to a man who had imperfectly succeeded in constructing a card- 
ing-machine to make rolls for jennies. His stock in trade was the 
knowledge of the Arkwright models that he carried in his head. He 
left home without telling his mother of his intentions and sailed from 
London on September 13, 1789. After a passage of sixty-six days he 
arrived in New York, November 18. With the energy of a young man 
of twenty-one he secured employment with the New York Manu- 



Samuel 

Slater, 
" The 
Father oj 
American 
Cotton 
Man-uf act- 



Slater comes 
to America 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



Moses 

Brown 

engages 

Slater 



Slater begins 
the Manu- 
facture of 
Cotton 
Machinery 
and Cotton 
Spinning 
in America 



facturing Company but was dissatisfied with the water-power there. 
It happened, however, that through the captain of a Providence packet 
he learned of Moses Brown's interest in the manufacture of cotton. 

Moses Brown, the founder of Brown University, . was a wealthy 
merchant of Providence, retired from a business in which he carried 
on an extensive East India trade. At the time of Slater's arrival in 
this country Mr. Brown was interested in the cotton industry. He 
had purchased and installed at Pawtucket imperfect machinery; and 
there his two relatives, William Almy and Smith Brown, were trying 
to establish cotton-spinning. 

"I flatter myself," wrote Slater to Mr. Brown, "that I can give the 
greatest satisfaction in making machinery." 

A favorable answer was returned; and in January, 1790, he com- 
pleted an arrangement with Almy and Brown to go to Pawtucket. 

Mr. Brown, in relating the first interview with Samuel Slater, said: 
"When Samuel saw the old machines, he felt downhearted with dis- 
appointment, and shook his head, and said, 'These will not do: they 
are good for nothing in their present condition, nor can they be made 
to answer.' 

"'Thee said,' urged Moses Brown, 'that thee could make machinery. 
Why not do it?'" 

The young man said that he would undertake to construct the 
machine embodying the Arkwright patents. "Under my proposals," 
he added, "if I do not make as good yarn as they do in England, I 
will have nothing for my services but will throw the whole of what 
I have attempted over the bridge." 

In a shop in what was then Quaker Lane and is now East Avenue, 
just above Joseph Jenks's original forge, Samuel Slater with meagre 
assistance began the manufacture of the Arkwright models. His pay 
was a dollar a day. The windows of the small shop where he worked 
were shuttered and the doors barred, and every effort was made to 
keep the project secret. His patterns were made of wood, and the 
motive power was furnished by a wheel laboriously turned by a negro 
named Primus. Sylvanus Brown was employed as the wood-worker 
and David Wilkinson furnished the iron-work. Every forenoon Moses 
Brown, in a carriage drawn by a span of horses and driven by a colored 
man, rode over from Providence to see how things were getting on. 
The task Mr. Slater chose was by no means an easy one. It may be 
imagined that the only ray of light that streamed across his days was 
shed by Hannah Wilkinson, daughter of Oziel Wilkinson, in whose 
house Slater boarded. Hannah Wilkinson later became Mrs. Slater, 
and it is recorded that she caught her first glimpse of the young 
mechanic by peering cautiously through the keyhole of his workshop 
and that Samuel Slater, on turning, found looking at him a pair of 
roguish eyes and at once he loved their owner and vowed to win her. 
The achievements of Mr. Slater and his contributions to the cotton 
industry probably would have been immeasurably lessened, had he 
not had the close co-operation of his wife, Hannah Wilkinson Slater. 

A new era was opening for America in that little shop near the 
Pawtucket Falls. Samuel Slater was reproducing the famous Ark- 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 





From a Photo Collection of Frederick W. Easton 

PAWTUCKET FALLS AND MAIN STREET BRIDGE ABOUT 1850 

The mill on the right next to the bridge is the "Yellow Mill"; the stone mill next to it was 

torn down in 1887. On the left, next to the bridge, is the "New Mill," on the site of 

the Brownell Building. In front of it is the Pardon Jenks carpenter shop 



wright machines which were to establish the cotton industry in the 
United States. 

"Samuel, thee hast done well," said Moses Brown, when the 
machines were completed. 

A new agreement was drawn up, dated April 5, 1790, and a partner- 
ship formed between William Almy, Smith Brown and Samuel Slater, 
for the purpose of engaging in "the spinning of cotton by water." So 
much yarn was produced during the first year by this new method of 
spinning that in the latter part of 1792, though every effort was made 
to dispose of the product, several thousand pounds remained unsold. 
Then occurred the first panic in the American market for cotton yarns. 

"Thee must shut down thy wheels, Samuel, or thee will spin all my 
farms into cotton yarn," remonstrated Moses Brown. 

Slater sent some of his yarns to Strutt & Arkwright in England, who 



The First 
Machine- 
made 
Cotton Yarn 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



America s 

First Cotton 

Mill 



Samuel 
Slater 
organizes 
the First 
Sunday 
School in 
America 



President 

Andrew 

Jackson 

compliments 

Slater on 

establishing 

America's 

Cotton 

Industry 



pronounced them as good as their own product. The shop in which 
Mr. Slater made his first machinery and the small mill where it 
was later installed, have been torn down. The building, however, 
known as the Old Slater Mill, — the first cotton-mill in America — 
where Mr. Slater carried on an extensive business, still stands and 
may be seen from Main Street bridge. The building is owned by Job L. 
Spencer. 

Another building, closely associated with Mr. Slater, still stands in 
Pawtucket and is interesting because here Mr. Slater organized in 
1799 the first Sunday school in America. This school was conducted 
in connection with his mill, and the idea of it occurred to Mr. Slater 
on a Sunday morning when, as he was leaving his house, he heard 
several boys, employed in his mill, debating about robbing a farmer's 
orchard some miles distant. 

"Boys, what are you talking about?" he may have asked. 

"Bill wants to go up to Smithfield and rob Mr. Arnold's orchard, 
and Nat says he don't think it right to rob orchards on Sunday." 

"I don't, either," responded Mr. Slater. "I'll propose something 
better than that. You go into my house. Pll give you as many 
apples as you want and Pll keep Sunday school." 

Mr. Slater's Sunday school was patterned after that of Robert 
Raikes. Reading, writing and arithmetic were taught. Years after- 
ward a Captain Dexter said, "Our lesson-books were five Webster's 
spelling-books and our library consisted of three New Testaments." 

Establishing as he did the first cotton factory in this country, Mr. 
Slater had the whole market to himself. There was a great demand 
for the product of his mill and frequently goods were paid for months 
before he could deliver the order. At the time he died, he owned 
the Steam Mill at Providence, a third of the manufacturing village 
of Slatersville and all of the town of Webster. In Mr. Slater's later 
years he was largely interested in both woolen-mills and machine- 
shops. More than half a century after the inception of the cotton 
industry in Pawtucket, President Andrew Jackson said to Mr. Slater: — 

"I understand you taught us how to spin, so as to rival Great 
Britain in her manufactures; you set all these thousands of spindles 
at work, which I have been delighted to view and which have made 
so many happy by lucrative employment." 

"Yes, sir," said Samuel Slater, "I suppose I gave out the psalm 
and they have been singing it ever since." 

Bonaparte never pursued schemes of conquest more assiduously 
than did Samuel Slater his business. With him there was no second 
object on which to divide his thoughts. Like a shrewd, worldly man, 
he never boasted of riches. When the President of the United States 
once visited Slater, he told him that he understood he had made a 
very large fortune. 

"Why," said Mr. Slater, "I have made a competency." 

Samuel Slater was wont to say, " Sixteen hours' labor a day, Sundays 
excepted, for twenty years has been no more than fair exercise." 

To Hannah Slater, who is considered by many to have been no 
small factor in the success of her husband, Samuel Slater, belongs 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



a 






From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

PAWTUCKET FALLS AND BRIDGE ABOUT 1859 

Sam Patch's first high jump was from the mill on the right, then known as the "Yellow 
Mill" and owned by Eliphalet Stack and others. It was torn down about 1892. On 
the left is the high building called the "New Mill," also razed about 1892. The wooden 
building overhanging the river is the carpenter shop of Pardon Jenks 



the honor of beginning the cotton-thread industry in America. Mrs. 
Slater came of the famous Wilkinson family, who were noted for 
their inventions. Possibly by chance, maybe by intent, comely 
Hannah Slater spun yarn from Surinam cotton. 

"It is not very smooth," she is reputed to have said to her sister; 
"but would it not make good thread?" 

With the help of her sister she twisted some of it on the spinning- 
wheel, with the result that she made a very good grade of 20 two-ply 
thread. 

"Let us try it on these seams and see if it is as strong as linen 
thread," she further suggested. 

It proved to be much stronger. And the outcome of the experiment 
was that the first sewing-thread ever made of cotton was manufactured 



Hannah 
Slater and 
the Begin- 
ning of the 
Thread 
Industry 



13 




Frotn a Photo 



Collection of Job L. Spencer 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Taken for Slater Trust Company 

THE HOUSE WHERE SAMUEL SLATER STARTED THE FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL 

IN AMERICA 

Now standing on North Main Street 

by Samuel Slater, assisted by his wife, in 1793. To Mr. Slater is 
ascribed the introduction, in 1794, °f tne cotton-stocking yarn in this 
country. 



THE PRESENT LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF COTTON 

GOODS 

The founder of the Union Wadding Company was Darius Goff, The Union 
who at the age of twenty-four, in 1833, had accumulated money Wadding 
enough to buy, in partnership with his brother Nelson, the Union Company 
Cotton Mills in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Here they commenced to 
manufacture cotton batting from waste purchased of the Lonsdale 
Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Soon after they conceived 
the idea of making glazed wadding, and the process was described as 
being identical with that used in the manufacture of wadding to-day. 

As early as 1836 Mr. Goff had given special attention to the busi- 
ness of buying and selling cotton waste, which up to this time had 
been thrown away; and he formed a partnership with Mr. George 
Lawton of Boston, under the firm name of George Lawton & Co., 
to deal in that class of stock while manufacturing wadding in Reho- 

15 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

THE SLATER AND OTHER MILLS AT THE UPPER FALLS ABOUT THE 

TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR 



both. The mill was burned in 1846, and Mr. GofF moved to Paw- 
tucket. 

The firm of George Lawton & Co. bought a mill on the site of the 
present Wadding Company's property, fitted it with machinery, and 
began making wadding, which was continued by that firm until 1859, 
when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Goff retaining the waste 
contracts with many mills, as well as the wadding mill property, 
Mr. Lawton deeding his interest therein to Mr. Goff. 
Formation Mr. Goff formed a partnership with John D. Cranston and Stephen 
of the Firm Brownell, both of Providence, under the firm name of Goff, Cranston 
0} Goff, & Brownell, to do a general waste business, intending to engage in 
Cranston bf tne wadding business alone. At this juncture, in i860, Henry A. 
Brownell Stearns, then a young man of thirty-five, who had been connected with 
the Stearns & Foster Company of Cincinnati for two years previous, 
applied to him for a situation; and, as Mr. Goff was alone, he en- 
gaged him as superintendent, giving him a financial interest in the 
business. Shortly after Mr. Goff gave his partners a financial in- 
terest in the mill. The wadding business had been carried on by 
the firm of George Lawton & Co. under the name of the Pawtucket 
Steam Wadding Mills, which name was continued until 1862, when 
the concern was given its present name. 
Growth of The business was carried on as a partnership until 1870, when it 
the was incorporated with a capital of $300,000. Mr. Stearns was given 
Company an interest in the firm in 1872, and from that time the interests in 

16 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo 



Collection of Charles S. Foster 



On the left is the "New Mill," now the site of the Brownell Building, and 

on the right is the Almy Building, in which the Slater Trust Company 

was first located. Date of print about 1859 



the firm and in the Wadding Company were equal. Some of the 
partners becoming financially involved, the firm was dissolved in 
1879, the stocks of two of the partners being purchased by Mr. Goff 
and his son Lyman B. The original officers were: Darius Goff, 
president; Stephen Brownell, treasurer; Henry A. Stearns, super- 
intendent. Mr. Brownell resigned as treasurer, and Mr. Henry B. 
Metcalf was elected to that position, which he held for a short time 
to assist Mr. Goff in the liquidation of the firm. In 1880 the two 
businesses were merged, and carried on under the name of the Union 
Wadding Company. Lyman B. Goff was elected to the position of 
treasurer in 1880, taking charge also of the executive and administra- 
tive departments. 

In 1887 he purchased for the company the entire capital stock of p urc ^ ase 
the Riverside Mills of Augusta, Georgia, thus assuming the most J the 
extensive waste business in the country. The wadding part of the Riverside 
business has not increased materially in the past twenty-five years, Mills 

17 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

while the merchandising part has shown a wonderful development, 
its sales running into the millions. 

In 1891 Mr. Darius Goff died, and his son Lyman B. was elected 
president, which position he now holds; Mr. Stearns was elected 
vice-president, and Mr. George M. Thornton, who had served as 
assistant treasurer for several years, was elected treasurer. Mr. 
Stearns died in 1910; and Mr. Kenneth F. Wood was elected first 
vice-president, and Mr. George R. Stearns was elected second vice- 
president. The treasurer, Mr. Thornton, died in 1916, and Mr. 
Edward E. Goff was elected assistant treasurer. 

The present directors are Lyman B. Goff, Darius L. Goff, Patrick E. 
Hayes, George R. Stearns, Kenneth F. Wood, and George E. Barnard. 

Mr. Lyman B. Goff is among the few business men of the city, who, 
born in 1841, have witnessed the remarkable growth of Pawtucket's 
industries and have had a personal interest in many of them; his gift 
to the Pawtucket Boys' Club being evidence of his very real interest 
in the city's present and future welfare. 

He purchased in 1 891 the Morton estate, erected thereon a hand- 
some four-story building, 186 feet by 58 feet, and equipped it with 
a large swimming-tank, numerous shower-baths, play-rooms, two 
bowling-alleys, a gymnasium, a large auditorium, reading, class, and 
other rooms. This was built as a memorial to his son, Lyman Thorn- 
ton Goff, and the completed structure was deeded to the Pawtucket 
Boys' Club, which is incorporated under the laws of Rhode Island. 
On his seventieth birthday he endowed it with $25,000 and in his 
seventy-fifth year he gave to the city as a playground a tract of land 
in the centre of the city, valued at $25,000. Mr. Goff's gifts to 
churches, hospitals, and the various charitable organizations of the 
city have been numerous and substantial. 
Lorraine The Lorraine Manufacturing Company carries on an extensive 
Manu- business in the manufacture of cotton and worsted goods. The 
facturing concern was established in 1 88 1 as a branch of the business of W. F. 
Company & F. C. Sayles. An extension to an old mill was built on the south 
side of Mineral Spring Avenue, and cotton spinning and weaving 
machinery installed. A worsted-mill was erected on the north side 
of the avenue. In the course of time many additions have been made 
to the original buildings, and especial care has been taken to preserve 
the beauty of the grounds. In 1891 the company bought the Crefeld 
Mill at Westerly, Rhode Island; and, after making improvements 
and additions therein, the business was called the Westerly branch of 
the Lorraine Manufacturing Company. The product of the Lorraine 
is famous, many prizes having been awarded it at different exhibi- 
tions. 
United The United States Cotton Company, located in Central Falls, was 
States incorporated May, 1885, and manufactures extensively sateens and 
Cotton twills. The plant has an equipment of 80 cards, 1,600 looms, and 
company 58^200 ring spindles. The officers are: LeRoy Fales, president; 
J. Richmond Fales, secretary; Fred. W. Easton, treasurer; David 
Grove, superintendent and agent. 

The Burgess Mills were incorporated in 1906. They are equipped 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



with 1,500 looms, 60,000 ring and mule and 5,000 twister spindles. 
The production is fine combed cotton goods. The officers are: 
George A. Draper, president; George T. Greenhalgh, secretary and 
treasurer; Richard B. Snow, superintendent. 

The Waypoyset Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of cotton 
and silk novelties, was incorporated in 1907. The plant is equipped 
with 1,800 narrow looms and 35,000 ring spindles. The officers are: 
F. W. Easton, president; R. B. Easton, secretary; H. C. Barnefield, 
treasurer. 

The Darlington Textile Company was incorporated in 1912, and it 
produces cotton and silk corset cloth. The plant is equipped with 
100 looms. Robert Midgley is factory manager and Norman Schloss 
is general manager and head of the business. 

Cotton, silk, and worsted novelties are manufactured by the 
Oswegatchie Textile Company, which was incorporated in 1913 . 
The plant is equipped with 16 broad and 74 narrow looms. The officers 
are: John T. Kirk, president; John W. Ramsbottom, secretary; 
Fred F. Halliday, Jr., treasurer; H. E. Bishop, agent and buyer. 

Cotton and silk mixed goods and novelty yarn of all kinds are made 
by the Ervma Weaving Company. The plant has 24 broad and 4 
narrow looms and 1,300 twister spindles. G. C. Anderton is the 
proprietor. 



Burgess 
Mills 



Waypoyset 
Manufact- 
uring 
Company 

Darlington 

Textile 

Company 

Oswegatchie 

Textile 

Company 



Ervma 

Weaving 

Company 



MANUFACTURERS OF YARNS AND THREAD 

The Dexter Yarn Company was established in Pawtucket soon Dexter Yam 
after the time of Samuel Slater. Captain N. G. B. Dexter, who began Company 
the business, came to Pawtucket from Grafton, Massachusetts, in 
September, 1798. He used to say that the day he came he "saw 
the raising of the frame of the second mill here." Captain Dexter 
was employed by Almy, Brown & Slater and he remained with them 
thirty years. In 1820 he began to make knitting-cotton and had 
won considerable reputation as a cotton manufacturer when, ten 
years later, he entered business on his own account. Wilkinson, 
Greene & Co. built a stone mill at the end of the upper dam in 1813, 
and this building eventually became a part of what is to-day the 
Dexter Yarn Company. In the front of the mill may now be seen, 
cut in the stone, the following inscription: "Erected 181 3." The 
land on which the Dexter Yarn plant now stands belonged to Massa- 
chusetts a hundred years ago, and was a bone of contention for a 
long time between that State and Rhode Island. 

Simon W. Dexter, who was taken into the firm by his father, Captain 
Dexter, in 1844 went on the road as agent; and during his first trip 
to New York he received an order from John W. Henchman & Co. 
for 44,000 pounds of knitting-yarn and an order from J. B. Spellman 
& Sons for 20,000 pounds. Afterward he sold 80,000 pounds to the 
latter company. This was the beginning of great success for the 
firm. The company suffered severely from fire losses before its in- 
corporation in 1880. The old mill was originally four stories. This 



19 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




S. it [3 C 

i EE 1 6 k te fe 

il'll 




SI 

1 11.11 





Fro»z o Photo 

THE DEXTER MILL, 1840-1873 
Present site of the Slater Trust Company building 



Collection of H. W. Fitz 



was practically destroyed by fire. An entirely new front was built 
and many additions have been made. 

The plant employs 350 hands. Carded and combed yarns are 
manufactured, mercerized cotton and specialties for the dry-goods 
and notion trade, also the Dexter knitting-cotton, one of the com- 
pany's recognized specialties and a standard article in the market. 

The officers are: William H. Park, president; Joseph L. Brennan, 

secretary; S. Willard Thayer, treasurer and general manager; John C. 

Shaw, superintendent. 

Greene & The Greene & Daniels Company was founded in the village of Central 

Daniels Falls, Rhode Island, in 1840 by Benjamin F. Greene and four others. 

Company They started to spin coarse cotton yarns in a small mill of 600 spindles. 

In 1845 Mr. Greene sold out his interests, and moved to Mapleville, 

Rhode Island, starting a mill of 1,250 spindles. Here the business 

continued to grow; and in 1850, needing larger facilities, it was 

moved to Shannock, Rhode Island, where a mill of 2,000 spindles was 

started. In 1853 Horace G. Daniels, who had acted as book-keeper and 

assistant superintendent, was admitted to partnership. Up to this 

time the mill had sold its product to others to be wound and put on 

the market but now it began to wind and sell its own goods. 

The business increasing, it was forced in 1855 to move back to 
Central Falls, Rhode Island, where a much larger plant was leased 
for a period of ten years. It was at this time Mr. Daniels invented 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Drawing Collection of Slater Trust Company 

THE PRESENT BUILDING OF THE SLATER TRUST COMPANY 



a dressing-machine for polishing thread. Soon after their "Ivory 
Finish Spool Cotton" was put on the market. It soon became a 
household word, and made the concern well known throughout the 
country. In i860 the first part of the present mill was built in 
Pawtucket. It was enlarged in 1865, and has been enlarged several 
times since. The business was incorporated in 1876 as the Greene 
& Daniels Manufacturing Company. Mr. Daniels died in 1876, and 
Mr. Greene in 1887. 

In 1912 the business was reorganized as the Greene & Daniels 
Co., Inc., the present officers being Clark W. Holcomb, president, 
and William H. Gidley, treasurer. The present capacity is 44,850 
spindles, consisting of 35,872 ring and 8,978 mule spindles. It manu- 
factures high grade combed American and Sea Island single and ply 
yarns from 20's to 40's put up in skeins, tubes, cones, section beams 
and ball warps. 

Though the Slater interests were removed from Pawtucket many Slater 
years ago, the Slater Yarn Company — an outgrowth of an establish- Yarn 
ment in 1863 by W. F. & F. C. Sayles — perpetuates the name of Company 
Slater in this city. The company manufactures cotton yarns and 
has an equipment of 24,750 ring and 27,700 mule spindles and 3 
boilers. The officers are: Frank A. Sayles, president; Charles O. 
Read, vice-president; E. E. Dodge, secretary; Andrew E. Jenckes, 
treasurer; Joseph Mercer, agent. 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

J.& P. The J. & P. Coats Company comprises five large mills, equipped 
Coats with 105,000 spindles, employing 2,500 hands. G. Bion Allen is the 
Company general manager. The Pawtucket branch of this concern was once 
the Conant Thread Company, which was established by Hezekiah 
Conant. About 1868, after Mr. Conant had worked nine years with 
the Willimantic Thread Company of Connecticut, he came to Paw- 
tucket with the idea of beginning a similar industry here. Having 
interested several men in this proposition, with a capital of $30,000 
he began the manufacture of thread. That year Mr. Conant inter- 
viewed the J. & P. Coats people, and convinced them that it would 
be to their advantage to establish a thread business in the United 
States. The following year a new company was formed, and the 
manufacture of the J. & P. Coats famous six-cord spool cotton was 
begun. From time to time new mills were added until to-day there 
are five, covering nearly fifty acres. It is claimed that this is the 
largest business establishment in Pawtucket, and that no industry in 
the city has contributed more toward the welfare of the working- 
people. 
E. Jenckes The E. Jenckes Manufacturing Company had grown to such an extent 
Manufact- that in 1905 it was thought advisable to make a division and to set off a 
uring part of the works as the Jenckes Knitting Machine Company, while 
Company the spinning of yarn and the weaving of cloth were to be carried on 
and the by t h e Jenckes Spinning Company. Prior to this time — about 
1887 — the E. Jenckes Manufacturing Company absorbed the Woon- 
v socket Yarn Company and the Slater Stocking Company. The 
Tamarack Company was formed in 1908 for the purpose of weaving 
silk dress goods. In October, 191 5, the Tamarack Company bought 
the old Gage plant, in which for a number of years had been operated 
the American Yarn Manufacturing Company. The old plant was 
modified, partially rebuilt, and additions made, so that now there 
is a first-class spinning-mill of 35,000 spindles. In 1916 the company 
commenced the erection of a million-dollar spinning and weaving 
shed on Conant Street. The mill will have 53,000 spindles, and the 
finished product will be tire fabrics. 

The officers of the Jenckes Spinning Company, and also of the 

Tamarack Company, are: LeRoy Fales, president; Robert J. Jenckes, 

vice-president; Frederick L. Jenckes, treasurer; J. Willard Baker, 

secretary. 

Crown The Crown Manufacturing Company manufactures peeler and 

Manufact- Egyptian yarn from 20's to 6o's. It was organized June 23, 191 1, 

uring under the laws of Rhode Island. The mill is located just over the 

ompany R n0 cl e Island line in South Attleboro. The original mill was built 

for 30,000 spindles, and the company is now at work on an addition 

to its factory which will double the number of spindles. The officers 

are: Lyman B. Goff, president; K. F. Wood, vice-president; B. C. 

Chace, Jr., general manager; Edward E. Leonard, secretary and 

Pawtucket treasurer. 

Warp The Pawtucket Warp Company manufactures cotton and mer- 
Company cerized yarns. John Fallow is the manager. 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

MAIN STREET LOOKING WEST FROM NORTH MAIN STREET 

ABOUT 187s 



The proprietor of the Shaker Thread Company is Harry A. War- Shaker 

burton, and the products are spool cotton and sewing-silk. 

Company 



MANUFACTURERS OF NARROW FABRICS 

The Hope Webbing Company, founded in 1883 and incorporated Hope _ 
in 1889, manufactures, dyes and bleaches cotton, worsted, linen, webbing 
and silk narrow fabrics and non-elastic fabrics. It is the largest Company 
narrow-fabric plant in America. At the present time the company 
has 1,000 narrow-fabric looms, also 250 braiders. The first plant, 
having ten looms and fifteen employees, was installed in Providence. 
In seven years the equipment was increased to 60 looms, and in 1890 
the plant was moved from Providence to Pawtucket. At this time 
the number of looms was increased to 108. The plant was enlarged 
several times during the years 1890-1912. At present the com- 
pany has 1,000 narrow-fabric looms, and it employs more than that 
number of hands. The officers are: Charles Sisson, president; 

23 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

Charles A. Horton, general manager; Charles C. Marshall, treasurer; 

Attmore A. Tucker, secretary; Percy T. Phillips, superintendent. 

The John J. Kenyon Manufacturing Company makes braids, spool 

Kenyon ta p eSj s h oe an( j cor set laces. The plant is equipped with 60 looms 

urin and . 6o ° braiders - The officers are: R. A. Kenyon, president; G. H. 

Company Davis, secretary; John F. Kenyon, superintendent. The company 

" was incorporated in 1897. 
W hh ^ e Smith Webbing Company was incorporated in 1898. It has 

' m Z an equipment of 200 looms, and manufactures narrow fabrics. The 

- officers are: Frank R. Parsons, president; Allan F. Grant, secretary; 
E. H. Parsons, treasurer. 

Shannock The Shannock Narrow Fabric Company manufactures trimming 
tapes, mercerized shoe and hat ribbons, and all kinds of fine and fancy 
~ c tapes. It also makes a specialty of fine corset trims. Nearly all the 

A product is fine goods. The plant was started in 1899 at Shannock, 
R.I., by John Crowther and Chas. S. King. Mr. Crowther has been 
the treasurer and manager since it started, and is the active execu- 
tive head of the company, with his residence in Pawtucket, R.I. 
Mr. King is in business in New York, and sells a large part of the 
product of the plant. It has grown from a plant that had twelve 
looms and about sixteen hands until now there are sixty-four looms 
with about one hundred hands. A year ago the plant was rebuilt 
and enlarged, and now is a fine brick building. The inside is all 
white, making an ideal place for manufacturing. The machinery 
and equipment are the finest that can be bought, and are well adapted 
to their purpose. 

The present officers are Chas. S. King, president, C. S. Davisson, 
vice-president, John Crowther, treasurer and manager. 

Lacings and braids are made by the Providence Braid Company, 

d which has an equipment of 1,500 braiders. The company was incor- 

y porated in 1904. H. B. Huntoon is president and treasurer. 

Glencaim Silk, cotton, and mercerized flat shoe-laces and narrow fabrics are 

Manufact- manufactured by the Glencairn Manufacturing Company, which was 

§ incorporated in 1908. The officers are as follows: J. N. Alexander, 

in y president; William Newman, vice-president; J. G. Brown, treasurer; 

J. P. Brown, secretary. 

Vienna Elastic braids and tapes are made by the Vienna Braid and Tape 

Braid Company, which was incorporated in 1908. The officers are: Jessie 

Wilson, president and treasurer; W. M. P. Bowen, secretary; George 

- T. Brennan, manager. 

The Rhode Island Textile Company was organized by J. H. Conrad, 
Island anc [ incorporated in 1913. The plant began operations with 75 braid- 
ing-machines, and this number has been increased to 500. The plant 
■ has run night and day since operations were first begun; and on 
August 21, 1916, work was started in the new mill building, which 
has about 25,000 feet of floor space. This company specializes on 
fine white work, both mercerized cotton and silk; and the product 
consists chiefly of corset laces and laces for "middy blouses." The 
officers are: A. L. Kelley, president; J. H. Conrad, treasurer and 
general manager. 

24 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



Pawtucket 

Tape 

Company 

Tubular 

Woven 

Fabric 

Company 

P awtucket 

Braided 

Line 

Company 

Lebanon 

Mill 

Company 



I nited 

States 

Knitting 

Company 

Lumb 

Knitting 

Company 



P awtucket 

Hosiery 

Company 



The officers of the Pawtucket Tape Company are: John F. Street, 
president; Charles F. Eddy, treasurer; R. A. Kenyon, agent. The 
company manufactures tape. It employs 50 hands and has 42 looms. 

The Tubular Woven Fabric Company manufactures circular-woven 
fabric. The officers are: William H. Thornley, president and treas- 
urer; William E. Sprackling, general manager. 

A. G. Hazard is the proprietor of the Pawtucket Braided Line 
Company, and the product is braided cotton, linen and silk fish-lines 
and shoe-laces. 

KNIT GOODS AND HOSIERY MANUFACTURERS 

The Lebanon Mill Company was established in 1859 and incor- 
porated in 1896. The products of the mill are rubber linings, astra- 
kans, jersey cloths, knitted fabrics, men's, women's, and children's 
flat-ribbed underwear, cloths for sweaters, golf vests, cardigans, and 
sweater coats. The plant is equipped with 170 spring-needle knitting- 
machines, 15 latch-needle knitting-machines, and 100 sewing-machines. 
The officers are: S. Willard Thayer, president; Alanson Thayer, 
treasurer; Edward Thayer, secretary. 

Astrakans, stockinets, eiderdowns, and rubber linings are made by 
the United States Knitting Company. George L. Miller is treasurer. 
Mr. Miller started the business in 1888. 

The Lumb Knitting Company was incorporated in 1903. The 
plant has an equipment of 90 knitting and 175 sewing machines. 
Women's ribbed underwear and union suits and infants' wrappers 
are manufactured. George H. Lumb, treasurer; Ralph G. Lumb, 
assistant treasurer; Elmer F. Hornby, secretary; E. P. Sheridan, super- 
intendent. 

The Pawtucket Hosiery Company makes silk, mercerized, and cash- 
mere seamless hosiery. The concern was incorporated in 191 1. The 
officers are: W. S. Carter, president; J. L. Jenks, secretary; George H. 
Lumb, treasurer; William Comery, agent. 



DYERS AND BLEACHERS 

A writer in Ballou's Pictorial, — a New York publication, — under 
the nom de plume "Neutral Tint," quoting the author of "Reminis- 
cences" about 1850, says, — 

"Fifty years ago, the Slater mill was young, and in vigorous opera- 
tion, to the astonishment of the inhabitants and multitudes of others, 
who went down to Pawtucket to witness its magical doings which 
consisted mostly in the manufacture of coarse yarns, to be wove by 
hand in all the surrounding country. These yarns sold at prices 
which would now astonish the natives of this or any other country, 
and yet so great was the demand for them, that for a long time it 
was impossible to fill the orders which came from all directions. The 
goods made from them on the country looms soon became the favorites 
of the country people, so much more durable were they than the old 
fabrics. From forty to fifty cents a yard were the ordinary prices 

26 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

MAIN STREET ABOUT 1875 

Looking west from junction with Broad Street. Showing the old Peter Warren House at the 

foot of Dexter Street 



for the coarse, heavy sheetings of this kind. No one then dreamed 
of looms to go by water power, and the first fixtures for that purpose 
were curious, high standing articles. The bleaching business was then 
truly in a state of nature, and the whole ground adjoining the old 
mill on the north side, where are now the omnibus stables of Messrs. 
Wetherell & Bennett, the leather works of Mr. Fairbrother, and many 
other buildings, was one great bleaching meadow, and Mother Cole, 
as she was familiarly called, was at the head of operations. Here 
this excellent and industrious old lady and her few assistants, with 
their watering-pots, drying sticks, and other simple contrivances, 
toiled 'from morn to noon, from noon to dewey eve,' and by a slow, 
laborious process, the cloths, and the yarns from brown to white 
began to turn." 

The oldest bleaching and dyeing establishment in Pawtucket, and Robert D. 
probably the first one established in New England, is the Robert D. Mason 
Mason Company. The business was begun in 1805 by Barney Merry, Company 
the grandfather of Frederic R. Mason, present head of the bleachery. 
After Mr. Merry's death, in 1847, his sons carried on the business. 
In 1866 Robert D. Mason was taken into the firm, then known as 
Samuel Merry & Co. On Samuel Merry's retirement in 1870 the 
firm was named the Robert D. Mason Company. Frederic R. Mason 
was taken into the company in 1889. Robert D. Mason served for 
many years on the Board of Water Commissioners of Pawtucket, and 

27 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



he was closely associated with the growth and development of the 
city. The Robert D. Mason Company are bleachers, dyers, and 
mercerizers of cotton yarns in warps and skeins, also cotton tapes, 
braids, spool threads, knitting-cotton, stockinet, and jersey cloth. 
The officers are: Frederic R. Mason, president and treasurer; Will- 
iam J. Burton, secretary. The firm was incorporated in 1892. 
Pawtucket The Pawtucket Branch the United States Finishing Company, before 
Branch the its incorporation in 1899, was the Dunnell Manufacturing Company, 

United established in 1836 by Jacob Dunnell, Thomas J. Dunnell, and Na- 
States thaniel W. Brown. The business was carried on under the name 
' of Jacob Dunnell & Co. until 1853, when the Dunnell Manufacturing 
in y Company was formed. For some years printing was done by hand- 
blocks and with machines of from two to four colors. Gradually 
machines were brought into use that would print up to twelve colors. 
In 1884 the plant added a building for the finishing of fancy bleached 
goods, also a dye-house. The Dunnell Company was reincorporated 
sixteen years ago as the Pawtucket Branch of United States Finishing 
Company. An extensive business in finishing cotton piece-goods 
is carried on at the plant. W. T. Joyce is resident manager, and R. K. 
Lyons is superintendent. 

Sayles Two or three miles north of Pawtucket is a small stream called the 
Finishing Moshassuck River. History says that in its vicinity took place the 

Plants Indian massacre that annihilated the company of Englishmen under 
Captain Michael Pierce. In December of 1847 the Pimbly Print 
Works, situated in the valley of this historic stream, were bought at 
auction by William F. Sayles, who purchased a mill privilege and 
converted the old works into a bleachery of shirtings and sheetings. 
Mr. Sayles was then about twenty-three years old. His father, 
Clark Sayles, was a prominent merchant in Pawtucket, and young 
Sayles, after having attended school at Fruit Hill and later spent 
two years at Phillips Academy, entered a commercial house in Provi- 
dence, where he was first book-keeper, then salesman and finally 
manager of the financial part of the business. Shortly after this 
advancement he purchased the small wooden buildings of the Pimbly 
Print Works. He started the bleaching of cotton cloth and grad- 
ually — for he had small means — enlarged his business and became 
successful. In 1848, having gotten well under way, Mr. Sayles 
bleached about a ton of cloth a day. 

The water of the Moshassuck River proved excellent for bleaching 
purposes. In 1854, having enlarged the bleachery considerably, 
about four tons of cloth a day were finished and there were from 
twelve to fifteen people on the pay-roll, which called for a disburse- 
ment of not much over two hundred dollars per month. On June 4, 
1854, the works were destroyed by fire. The buildings were insured, 
and Mr. Sayles built a new and substantial plant for the prosecution 
of his business; and by i860 the operations had increased, so that 
about forty people were employed, with a monthly pay-roll of $1,200. 
The Civil War halted business of all kinds for a period, but from 
that time onward expansion was extensive and rapid. The works 
until 1 876 were for the bleaching and finishing of cotton cloth. About 



28 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



that time were added buildings for dyeing and finishing both cottons 
and worsteds, and the new plant became the Glenlyon Dye Works. 
In 1890 there were 790 people on the pay-roll of both plants, which 
amounted to $26,000 a month; and at this time there are about 
twenty-seven hundred people on the pay-roll, with a monthly dis- 
bursement of nearly a hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. 
The two establishments constituted one business under one ownership. 
About 1900 Mr. Frank A. Sayles, who inherited this business from 
his father, W. F. Sayles, acquired a new establishment, only par- 
tially completed at the time, at Phillipsdale, on the east side of 
the Pawtucket River, in East Providence. This was completed 
and opened, and is still operated, having been greatly enlarged. 
Here the process of printing both cottons and silks was added to the 
bleaching, dyeing, and finishing of these fabrics which had before 
been established at Saylesville. These three properties — the Sayles 
Bleacheries, the Glenlyon Dye Works, and the works at Phillipsdale — 
are grouped under one management, known as the Sayles Finishing 
Plants; and it is the largest establishment of its kind in the world. 
The ownership is vested in Frank A. Sayles, there being no outside in- 
terests. The village which has grown up around the bleacheries is known 
as Saylesville. 

The product of the establishment in round numbers and briefly 
expressed was in i860 about five hundred thousand yards of cloth 
finished per week, in 1890 it was 1,800,000 yards, and at the present 
time nearly or quite six million yards. 

About the year 1863, William F. Sayles formed a partnership with 
his brother, Frederick C. Sayles; and for years the business was 
conducted under the firm name of W. F. & F. C. Sayles. 

The Sayles family has been a well-known benefactor of both Paw- 
tucket and Providence. The brothers, to meet the growing needs 
of the community, built at Saylesville, in memory of their deceased 
children, a chapel, overlooking their bleacheries. In 1877 William F. 
Sayles erected a stone tower on one corner of the chapel in memory 
of his son, William Clark Sayles, who died while a student at Brown 
University. In the same year the Messrs. Sayles built the Moshas- 
suck Valley Railroad, which runs from the bleachery to Woodlawn. 
A letter from William F. Sayles was read on Commencement Day 
at Brown University, 1878, in which he offered the university $50,000 
for the erection of a building in memory of his son, William Clark 
Sayles, who, had he lived, would have been graduated from the 
university that year. Later the sum was increased to $100,000, and 
Sayles Memorial Hall was built. 

William F. Sayles was president of the Slater National Bank. He 
served several years as State senator, and was a trustee of Brown 
University and a lieutenant colonel of the Pawtucket Light Guard. 

William F. Sayles died in 1894, and by a provision in his will a fund 
was set apart for a suitable memorial to his wife and daughter. The 
form of the memorial was left to the discretion of his son, Frank A. 
Sayles, who erected the Memorial Hospital and presented the same 
to the corporation which now administers the work. 



Expansion 
of the 
Bleaching 
and Finish- 
ing 

Industry in 
Pawtucket 
after the 
Civil War 



Gifts to 
Pawtucket 



29 




SOME OF THE PLANTS OF THE 




Fales & Jenks Machine Co. 

LEADING INDUSTRIES OF TO-DAY 



PAW TUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



Home The Home Bleach and Dye Works was established in 1881 and 
Bleach incorporated in 1902. Peter B. McManus purchased the plant of 
and Dye the Union Wadding Company some years ago, and since then he 
Works h as carried on an extensive business in the dyeing (stainless fast 
black and fancy colors), bleaching, and mercerizing of cotton yarns, 
braids, tapes, twines, cords, knitting-cotton, and threads. Peter B. 
McManus, president and treasurer; Edward J. McCaughey, secre- 
tary and manager. 
Eagle Dye The Eagle Dye Works carries on an extensive business in dyeing 
Works and finishing raw cotton, raw wool, and cotton yarn. The company 
was established in 1881 and incorporated in 1886. The officers are: 
Moses Pollard, president and treasurer; William J. Reid, vice-presi- 
dent; Leon F. Brown, secretary. 
Dempsey The Dempsey Bleachery and Dye Works was established by James 
Bleachery Dempsey and his sons, John J. and William P. Dempsey, in 1882. 
and Dye The company was incorporated in 1884. The beginning of this 
Works bleachery is interesting. James Dempsey worked up from small 
beginnings. He was born in Rathbran, county Wicklow, Ireland, 
where he worked on a farm until he was fourteen, when on small pay 
he was bound out as an apprentice to a firm in Dublin to learn the 
grain and provision business. In later years he started a store of 
his own in Ireland; but, owing to a flaw in his lease, he was obliged 
to abandon his venture, sell his goods, and try another enterprise in 
Dublin. He had a similar experience there, for he unknowingly 
rented an entailed estate. The legal inheritor seized his goods. His 
friends came to his rescue. Shortly after this Mr. Dempsey sailed for 
America. 
John "My brother and I landed," he said in after-years, "in New York 
Dempsey 's in June, 1 841, and came to Globe Village, where we got employment 
Reminis- m the print works in different departments. I soon gave up my 
cences mercantile aspirations, and made my best efforts to learn the practice 
and theory of the bleaching, dyeing, and printing business, which 
I accomplished with some drawbacks occasioned by hard times 
in the manufacturing business, causing shut-downs and that sort 
of thing for short periods. During the delays I invariably turned 
to something else to bridge over until business in my line should 
come right. The Globe Print Works shut down in the fall of '43. I 
bought an axe, went with a gray-haired negro and learned to chop 
timber at about the place where the Fall River Bleachery is now 
located." 

Some thirty-six years later Mr. Dempsey, on the very spot where 
he chopped wood when he had a lay-off in the bleaching business, 
helped Mr. Borden lay out the Fall River Bleachery, and was him- 
self one of the stockholders. 

Mr. Dempsey eventually came to Providence to work in the en- 
graving shop of the Old Cove Print Works, and remained there until 
the plant burned. After that he worked as teamster for the Cranston 
Stone Ledge Company until the Globe Print Works started up under 
a new management. He then returned, and remained until 1844, 
when the works shut down. In the fall of 1844 he helped get a 

32 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



bleachery under way at Lonsdale, Rhode Island. He worked there 
twenty-two years, and then went to Millville, New Jersey, where he 
put into working order the Monantico Bleachery and Dye Works. 
From this plant he went to the Danvers Bleachery, which he renovated; 
and after that he moved to Lewiston, Maine, where he had charge 
of the Lewiston Bleachery and Dye Works. In later years he es- 
tablished the Dempsey Bleachery in Pawtucket. John J. and 
William P. Dempsey managed this bleachery after their father's 
death. John Dempsey died in 1898 and since that time William P. 
Dempsey has assumed the ownership and management of the plant. 
William H. McDermott is superintendent. The concern carries 
on an extensive business in bleaching, dyeing, and finishing cotton 
goods. 

The Pawtucket Dyeing and Bleaching Company, incorporated in 
1889, dyes and bleaches cotton yarn (skeins and warps), tapes, and 
stockinet. It prepares special bleaches for knitted-underwear and the 
woven-fabric trade. The officers are: William Rapp, president; 
William W. Orswell, treasurer; F. A. Sargent, secretary. 

The Solway Dyeing and Textile Company makes the famous Man- 
hattan shirtings. It also manufactures fancy cottons. The plant is 
equipped with 550 broad looms. Dyeing and bleaching of cotton 
yarns (skeins and warps) and mercerizing are carried on extensively 
at the plant. The officers are: Robert Dow, treasurer and manager; 
Jules C. Levi, vice-president; Thomas T. Anderson, superintendent. 
The company was incorporated in 1907. 

The Acme Finishing Company was incorporated in 191 2. Bleach- 
ing, mercerizing, dyeing, printing, and finishing of cotton piece-goods 
are carried on at this plant. The officers are: J. V. Dart, president; 
A. F. Shaw, vice-president and general manager; F. A. Decker, 
secretary and treasurer. 

Dyeing, bleaching, and mercerizing of cotton yarns are carried on 
by the McKenzie, McKay Company. The company was incorpo- 
rated in 1914. The officers are: Joseph Quarmby, president; George 
McKenzie, vice-president; Frank G. Rowley, treasurer; Thomas H. 
Tarbox, secretary; Arthur A. Morfitt, superintendent. 

Dyeing and bleaching are also done by the Halliwell Company 
plant. The company was incorporated in 1916. William Halliwell, 
president; George W. Halliwell, vice-president; Mrs. C. A. Sherman, 
treasurer. 

The bleaching, dyeing, and finishing of worsted piece-goods and 
worsted yarns are done by the Richardson, Foster Company. The 
plant is located at Central Falls. The officers are: Ralph Colwell, 
president; George M. Baker, treasurer; L. C. Hollingworth, general 
manager. 

John Kinniburgh is the proprietor of the Le Bon Bleach and Dye 
Works. Dyeing, bleaching, and mercerizing of cotton yarns, cotton 
piece-goods, stockinets, rubber linings, tapes, threads, braids, hosiery, 
sheetings, and astrakans, are done here. 



Pawtucket 

Dyeing 
and 

Bleaching 
Company 

Solway 

Dyeing 

and 

Textile 

Company 



Acme 

Finis lung 
Company 



McKenzie, 

McKay 

Company 



Halliwell 
Company 



Richardson, 

Foster 

Company 



Le Bon 
Bleach and 
Dye Works 



33 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



Joseph 

Jenks 

in 164.2 

establishes 

the First 

Iron Works 

in America 



Jenks 

invents the 

Scythe 



Stories of 

the Jenks 

Familv 



THE STORY OF THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON IN 
PAWTUCKET 

Joseph Jenks, whose son built the first house and established the 
first industry in Pawtucket, was a notable master-mechanic of Lynn, 
Massachusetts, where in 1642 he established the first colonial iron- 
works of any importance. He was the first founder in the western 
continent who worked in iron and brass. It is said that Mr. Jenks 
came from England with Governor Winthrop, and that under his 
supervision the first iron foundry was set up in Lynn, and various 
tools and moulds were made. A boon to the housewives were the 
pots and kettles made by Joseph Jenks. In Lynn to-day is one of 
the first iron pots cast by him. The first patent issued in this country 
bears the date 1646, and it was granted by the Massachusetts General 
Court for fourteen years to Joseph Jenks. It was for an improved 
water-wheel, which meant a new kind of saw-mill. This saw-mill 
was the first one put up in this country. Besides, Jenks made the 
first fire-engine used in America, the first wire, the dies for the 
famous pine-tree shilling, — the earliest coinage minted in the colonies. 
He invented the scythe, and obtained a patent for it. Practically 
the same scythe is in use to-day. Before the idea of it occurred to 
him all the grain in the world had been cut with a little hand-sickle. 
Joseph Jenks thought about this for a time, and then said, "Why 
not make the blade straight and twice as long, and swing it with a 
handle worked by both hands?" His answer to the question was 
the invention of the "sithe" itself. 

This builder of the first machinery made in America, who has come 
down in history as "a man of great genius," was the precursor of a 
long line of distinguished inventors. First was his son, the founder 
of Pawtucket, Joseph Jenks, Jr.; and, in more recent years, Alvin 
Jenks, one of the founders of the firm of Fales & Jenks. A rep- 
resentative of this family in the present generation is Herbert Gould 
Beebe, grandson of Alvin Jenks and president of the Standard Engi- 
neering Works, who has taken out about twenty patents on the 
cotton machinery. 

The sons of Joseph Jenks, Jr., became distinguished men. Joseph 
was governor of Rhode Island from 1727 to 1742; Nathaniel attained 
the rank of major in military service; Ebenezer became a preacher; 
William, a judge. Of Nathaniel, who was active in the defence 
of Pawtucket against the Indians, are told many tales concern- 
ing his marvellous strength. He is said to have lifted "a forge 
hammer weighing 500 pounds, together with seven men thereon." 
At another time he (on his hands and knees) lifted upon his back 
timber judged to weigh 3,000 pounds. Still another story will bear 
repeating. They say that in Captain Nathaniel Jenks's time a 
high board fence with great gates was built across the western abut- 
ment of Pawtucket bridge to protect the town against the spread 
of small-pox from Boston. A stranger came to Captain Jenks 
on a dark night, and asked that he might take his horse through 
the gate. Captain Jenks, who was keeper of the gate, refused the 



34 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection oj Charles S. Foster 

THE NATHANIEL JENKS HOUSE ON NORTH MAIN STREET 



request, and told the stranger that he could not be admitted, as the 
bridge was up. The man said he rode from the east to the fence, 
and that he did not discover that the bridge had been taken up. 
He and his horse had come over the Falls on a single string-piece, 
14 inches wide and 40 feet long, and 20 feet above the Falls. 

A trip-hammer-and-blacksmith shop, in which were manufactured 
iron ship-bolts and other ship-work, was built here in 1763. The 
ship anchors were made by Stephen Jenks and Oziel Wilkinson. In 
1 77S Captain Stephen Jenks patented, and began the manufacture 
of, muskets for the militia companies of the colony. Under the Jenks 
patents other muskets were made during the Revolutionary War. 

Near the close of 1791 Moses Brown wrote a letter in which he says: 
"The manufacture of iron into blistered steel, equal in quality to 
English, has been begun within about a year in North Providence 
[Pawtucket], and is carried on by Oziel Wilkinson. I thought of 
speaking also of pig iron and bar iron, slitting it into nail rods, rolling 
it into hoops and plates, making it into spades and shovels and cold 
nails, anchors, etc., all in this district." 

To tell fully the story of the Wilkinsons would be to record the 
history of Pawtucket, for they are closely connected with the growth 
of the town and were among its earliest settlers. The first steamboat 
operated in this country was one of 12 tons, built by Elijah Ormsbee 
of Providence, with an engine provided by David Wilkinson of Paw- 
tucket. David Wilkinson had a genius for invention, and with but 
little work he made the patterns for the engine, cast and bored the 



Ship 
Anchors, 

1763 

Muskets 
in 1773 

A Letter 
written by 
Moses 
Brown, 1791 



The Iron 

Industry, 

the 

Wilkinsons, 

and the 

First 

Steamboat 



35 



PAW TUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



A Lesson 

from a 

Three-legged 

Milking- 

stool, 1794 



Ten Dollars 
for perfect- 
ing a Slide 
Lathe for 
which after 
Half a 
Century 
Congress 
voted 
$10,000, 
1797 

An 
Ingenious 
Clock- 
maker, 1799 

Ship- 
building 
about 1805 



cylinder, and suggested to Ormsbee two forms of paddles; and, with 
neither flags nor crowds, the two projectors of the first American 
steamboat started on a trip to Providence. They successfully reached 
that town, and returned to Pawtucket, where from want of funds 
they drew up their boat. This was ten years before Robert Fulton 
sailed down the».Hudson River. Nor does the Ormsbee-Wilkinson 
tale end with "their boat tied on the banks of the Pawtucket River. 
It really began there, and it was just chance that the Hudson instead 
of the Pawtucket or Blackstone River was the scene of the display of 
the first public steamboat. Not many days went by after Ormsbee 
and Wilkinson had sailed to Providence before a man by the name 
of Daniel French came to Pawtucket, and asked Mr. Wilkinson if he 
would show him the plans of his engine. With the request Wilkinson 
readily complied, and years later Mr. Wilkinson said: "I never knew 
where he came from nor where he went to. Some three or four years 
after we laid our boat by, I was in New York and saw some work 
commenced on Fulton's works for steamboat shafts." Not long after 
that Mr. Wilkinson learned that the man who some years before 
spent three days on his steamboat drawings was Daniel French, to 
whom is attributed a part of Robert Fulton's success, French about 
that time being employed by Fulton. 

"About 1794," says David Wilkinson, "my father built a rolling 
and slitting mill at Pawtucket, on the gudgeon of the wheel of which 
I put my new screw-machine in operation, which was on the principle 
of a gauge or sliding lathe now in every workshop almost throughout 
the world; the perfection of which consists in that most faithful agent, 
gravity, making the joint, and that almost perfect number three, which 
is harmony itself. I was young when I learned that principle. I had 
never seen my grandmother putting a chip under a three-legged 
milking-stool; but she always had to put a chip under a four-legged 
table, to keep it steady. I cut screws of all dimensions by this ma- 
chine, and did them perfectly." 

A slide lathe which David Wilkinson perfected and patented brought 
him ten dollars. Since little profit came from the invention, Wilkinson 
allowed the patent to run out. After half a century, Congress voted 
him $10,000 as a partial remuneration "for the benefits accruing to 
the public service from the use of the principle of the gauge and 
sliding lathe, of which he was the inventor, now in use in the work- 
shops of the government at the different arsenals and armories." 
Some of the largest anchors in the country were forged by the Wilkin- 
sons, and it is said* that they were the first in the world to make cut 
nails and also to cast cannon solid. 

A man by the name of Field, who conducted a clock-making busi- 
ness, resided in Pawtucket about 1799. He commenced his trade by 
casting brass in the anchor-shop of Oziel Wilkinson. 

George Robinson testified in the Sergeant Trench case that he was 
a ship-builder, that his business was in North Providence (Pawtucket), 
and that between the years 1794 and 1805 he built seventeen vessels 
of from 80 to 280 tons burden. He said that he employed from nine- 
teen to twenty ship-carpenters. As early as 1790 the ship "Tyre," 



36 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

built in Pawtucket between 1780 and 1785, sailed around the world, 
— a remarkable feat in those days. 

Stephen Jenks, of the famous Jenks family who founded Pawtucket, Contract- 
took an order to supply the Continental troops with 10,000 muskets for 10,000 
for the War of 1812. This was a gigantic undertaking for the time. ¥ us ^ ets T u 
As early as 1777 the General Assembly purchased from Captain Jenks f or tl l e "' a 
"a small-arm" for £12 and a gratuity of £3, and presented the weapon °- 
to a chief of the Oneida Nation then visiting Rhode Island. Captain 
Jenks has been described as a man of sound judgment and integrity. 
He was a member of the General Assembly for many years, a zealous 
Patriot, and the presiding officer at most of the public meetings of 
his town. In his day the picking of cotton was carried on in a crude 
way, being distributed among the families of the neighborhood, where 
it was whipped by hand. Captain Jenks introduced a cotton-picker, 
the first started in Pawtucket. He continued this business until 
i8i7or 181 8, when pickers were generally used in the mills. 

John Thorp, an ingenious resident of Pawtucket, in order to supply Invention 
a long-felt need in cotton-weaving, invented in 18 14 a power-loom, of a Power- 
which was a great improvement on the old method of hand-weaving, loom, 1814 
This machine, later followed by more adequate instruments, stood 
upright, and was worked by a perpendicular action. Mr. Thorp also 
invented a machine for winding quills and bobbins. He invented a 
braiding-machine and also a ring-spinning machine. Another native 
of Pawtucket, Asa Arnold, invented a machine that separated wool 
in such a way that it could be spun from cards. 

About 1 81 7 William Gilmore was employed in Slatersville, and A Successful 
there he tried to introduce a Scotch loom. His suggestions were not Power-loom, 
received; but in the mean time Judge Lyman, of North Providence, 18 17 
heard of the suggestion, and employed Mr. Gilmore to experiment in 
his mill. When the loom was installed, it did not work, and David 
Wilkinson was asked to look the machine over. He discovered the 
trouble, and soon the news flew that a new power-loom was running 
in Pawtucket. Men came from all over New England to inspect the 
machine. Mr. Massena Goodrich points out in an interesting way 
the fact that Captain James S. Brown, whose inventive genius and 
business capacity aided so greatly the prosperity of the town, worked, 
at the time the loom was installed, in the shop of David Wilkinson, 
and that his first task was the finishing of some patterns of the Scotch 
loom. 

In the old coal-yard of Oziel Wilkinson the foundry business was /. S. White 
established in Pawtucket. The heavy presses that were used at Nan- r d Co. 
tucket and New Bedford for pressing out sperm oil were supplied for 
many years by this town, and so great a fame was won by Pawtucket for 
skilful iron-workers that as early as 1794 Colonel Baldwin came from 
Boston to have machinery made for a canal that was being con- 
structed. The Wilkinsons made the patterns, wheels, and racks for 
this and later they made the iron-work for a drawbridge that was 
being built between Boston and Cambridge. The spades, shovels, 
and picks that were used in building the Norfolk and Bristol turnpike, 
which was laid out from Pawtucket bridge to Boston, were made by 

37 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



the Wilkinsons. On the death of Oziel Wilkinson, in 1815, the busi- 
ness was carried on by his son David until 1829. Zebulon White in 
1832 started up one of the abandoned furnaces. Later the business 
was carried on under the name of the Pawtucket Cupola Furnace 
Company; and in 1881, on J. S. White's succession to the business, 
the firm became J. S. White & Co. The establishment has a partic- 
ular historic interest, as it is a direct outgrowth of the work estab- 
lished by Oziel Wilkinson. David Wilkinson, in speaking of the 
foundry, once said, "We built machinery to go to almost every part 
of the country." 
William H. The William H. Haskell Manufacturing Company is the oldest 
Haskell bolt and cold punched nut plant in America. Hence Pawtucket 
Manufact- justly lays claim to having been the birthplace of the cold punched 
> nut industry in America. Colonel Stephen Jenks, a skilful mechanic 
Company and b i acksmith5 began i n l820 ma king bolts in the "Old Forge Shop," 
the site of which is now occupied by the water power plant of the 
Blackstone Valley Gas & Electric Company. Colonel Jenks was 
the first man in Pawtucket to introduce cold punching from bar iron. 
Gradually the nut and bolt industry which he had begun increased, 
and was conducted by him until his death in 1837. His son Joseph 
and Joseph T. Sisson were his successors. In 1835 Tinkham, Has- 
kell & Co. took over the business, which they sold to W. H. Haskell 
the following year. Mr. Haskell added to his business the manufacture 
of coach screws. In 1863 a new site was selected and new buildings 
were erected on the site of the present buildings, and the firm of 
William H. Haskell established. In 1882 they obtained a charter 
under the name of the William H. Haskell Company, and business 
was continued until 1898 when a consolidation of the William H. 
Haskell Company and the Pawtucket Nut Company was formed 
and a new charter obtained under the name of the William H. Haskell 
Manufacturing Company. The present officers of the company 
are: John A. Arnold, president; J. Milton Payne, treasurer; E. 
Shirley Greene, secretary; Wharton Whitaker, vice-president and 
general manager. 

During the early years of the William H. Haskell Company many 
other concerns began the making of nuts and bolts. As early as 1834 
and 1835 Jeremiah and Joseph Arnold made iron nuts in a press 
which they set up on the Moshassuck River, near the present Sayles 
Bleacheries. A man by the name of Field entered the Arnold firm, 
and the business was transferred to Pawtucket. Mr. Goodrich 
mentions Franklin Rand's undertaking. "He first occupied," says 
Mr. Goodrich, "the old grist-mill house, which, perched on the rocks, 
outrode the freshet of 1807. He set up a press there for punching 
iron in 1843. The next year he took as his partner Joseph Arnold, 
and they remained together till 1847. From that time Mr. Rand 
was alone till 1863. He introduced an innovation in his business. 
Before his experiment it was thought that the maximum was reached 
when nuts were punched from cold iron one and one-half inches 
broad by three-fourths of an inch thick, but he soon punched nuts 
two and one-half inches broad by an inch thick. Mr. Rand built the 

38 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



|P»r 




From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

THE FIRST PAWTUCKET RAILROAD STATION, CORNER OF BROAD AND 
EXCHANGE STREETS 



largest press for this purpose that then existed in the country. He 
was ridiculed in advance for his undertaking, for his wheel was deemed 
too small for the object. But he taxed its full power, and showed 
that, as the business originated in this neighborhood, it was capable 
of great perfection here." 

Jeremiah O. Arnold, who was born in Smithfield in the latter part 
of the eighteenth century, when he was eighty years of age recalled 
some interesting industrial facts. Mr. Arnold said : " I was acquainted 
with some of the older residents in Pawtucket seventy years ago 
[about 1807]. I saw the great freshet which carried off the bridge 
and Pardon Jenks's buildings. Mr. Jenks said, 'I have lost all my 
property; I am a poor man.' He was asked how much he would 
take for his rocks, where the buildings stood. 'I will take forty 
thousand dollars,' was the answer. I came to Pawtucket when I 
was twenty years old, and worked for David Wilkinson. In 1817 I 
helped make a machine for making Scotch plaid. In 1818 I helped 
build a steam-engine for Dr. Wadsworth to run a steamboat to Provi- 
dence. In 1819 I built the first bed-tick loom. I saw the first loom 
run by water-power. It was made to stand upright. [This was 
probably Thorp's loom.] In 1824 I helped build a hydraulic press. 
In 1845 I made the first dies for twisting augers under trip-hammers. 
In 1846 I took charge of the shop called the Providence Tool Com- 
pany. They run seven presses for making nuts and washers. (The 
first press I built for this kind of work was in 1833.) I started ten 
presses for the Providence Forge and Nut Company, — one a very 

39 



Reminis- 
cences 
o/J.O. 
Arnold 
about the 
Great 

Freshet and 
Pazvtucket's 
First 
Steamboat 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



large press. I punched nuts four inches in diameter, two inches 
thick, from cold iron." 

David G. Fales and Alvin Jenks in 1830 formed a partnership, and 
Jenks began the manufacturing of cotton machinery at Central Falls. In 
Machine 1832 they began the manufacture of Hubbard's Patent Rotary Pump. 
Company Later they made ring-spinning frames, the first manufactured in the 
world, also ring twisters for cotton and wool, force-pumps, water- 
wheels, thread-winders, drawing-frames, and various other kinds of 
machinery used in the process of cotton manufacture. The firm 
moved from Central Falls to Pawtucket in 1865, and in 1876 was 
incorporated as the Fales & Jenks Machine Company. The firm, 
which is one of the oldest in the United States, was originally Stephen 
Jenks & Sons, which was dissolved about 1829, a year prior to the 
establishment of Fales & Jenks. In later years John R. Fales, Alvin F. 
Jenks, and Stephen A. Jenks were admitted to the firm. A few 
years after the death of Alvin Jenks, in 1856, David G. Fales retired 
from the firm. Stephen A. Jenks will be remembered as a man who 
had much to do with the successful building up of cotton manufact- 
uring in the United States. 

The company builds cotton ring-spinning frames, cotton, wool, and 
worsted ring-twisting machinery for yarns and thread, also rotary 
chemical-pumps, rotary fire-pumps, and frictional gearing. Two styles 
of ring-spinning frames are built by them. One is the type that has 
been their standard since 1880. The other is the new and improved 
box-head, adjustable type, having the same arrangement of draft and 
twist gearing, designed for a much larger range of gearing than was 
possible in the old type. The officers are: Albert A. Jenks, president; 
LeRoy Fales, vice-president; Herbert G. Beede, secretary; Frederic W. 
Easton, treasurer. 
Colly er About eighty years ago Nathaniel S. Collyer and William H. Has- 
Machine kell established what is to-day the Collyer Machine Company. Bolts 
Company and nuts were made by the firm. In 1859 the partnership was dis- 
solved; and Mr. Haskell took over the nut-and-bolt business, while 
Mr. Collyer continued the making of machinery. Samuel S. Collyer 
succeeded his uncle in 1878, and he carried on the business until his 
death in 1884. Mr. Collyer was a great mechanic. He was the 
president of the first board of commissioners that built the water- 
works. The business was incorporated under its present name in 
1885; and Clovis H. Bowen has since that time carried on the manu- 
facturing of dynamos, motors, shafting, pulleys, elevators, hangers, 
and general mill-work. 

The Easton & Burnham Machine Company was established in 1849 
Bumham in Providence by N. R. Easton and C. C. Burnham. A decade later the 
Machine business was moved to Pawtucket, and the present plant was erected 
Company in 1882. The company was incorporated in 1891, and about this 
time Frederic W. Easton was elected treasurer. It manufactures 
spindles used in the making of cotton, wool, and silk goods. Other 
textile machinery made by the company are improved upright spoolers. 
The officers are: N. Howard Easton, president and secretary; Fred- 
eric W. Easton, treasurer. 

40 



PAW TUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

THE BALLOU TAVERN, BUILT IN 1740 

It occupied the site of the Sheldon Building, on the corner of Broad and North Union Streets, 
at the junction with Main Street 



The Jenckes Knitting Machine Company and the Jenckes Spinning 
Company, which are under practically the same management, are the 
outgrowth of an industry started in 1854 by Nathan Hicks, who, in 
following his trade as a ring-spinner, invented an improvement in 
ring travellers, and began to manufacture them, hardening the first 
ones over his kitchen fire. It is an interesting fact that the first shop 
in which these travellers were manufactured was the Old Slater Mill, 
the birthplace of the cotton industry in America. Hicks continued his 
industrial ventures in a small way until about 1870, when Edwin and 
Joseph Jenckes came to Pawtucket from Woonsocket and with Mr. 
Hicks formed a company. They moved into larger buildings on 
East Avenue, and became known as general mill furnishers through- 
out the United States and Canada. In 1883 there was a division of 
partners, Edwin Jenckes & Son continuing the work under the name 
of E. Jenckes Manufacturing Company; and in 1887 a new mill was 
built. The Slater Stocking eventually became the property of E. 
Jenckes, and the knitting branch of the concern soon led to an interest 
in knitting-machines. After due consideration of trade demands the 
company began to build knitting-machines, which have been installed 
in many of the largest knitting-mills in this country, Canada, South 
America, and European countries. 

The Jenckes Knitting Machine Company was incorporated in 
January, 1903. The officers are: Frederick L. Jenckes, president; 
Robert J. Jenckes, treasurer; J. Willard Baker, secretary; J. E. 
Lent, agent. 

The R. Plews Manufacturing Company was established in 1858 

41 



Jenckes 

Knitting 

Machine 

Company 

and Jenckes 

Spinning 

Company 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



R. Pleivs an d incorporated in 1900. The plant is in Central Falls. An exten- 

Manufact- srve business is carried on there in the manufacture of the famous 

& Plews patent tin cylinders for self-operating mules, spoolers, twisters, 

Company ^^ S p mnm g_f rameS- All kinds of tin, zinc, sheet iron, copper, and 

brass work are made and repaired. The officers are: William H. 

Boardman, president; Holmes Lomas, secretary and treasurer. 

George W. ^he nrm f George W. Payne & Co. was established by Holmes and 

Payne xs p a y ne [ n 1865. After a short time Mr. Holmes sold out his interest 

'" to George W. Payne, and the present firm name was adopted. The 

company was incorporated in 1903. It manufactures cotton and 

woolen machinery, a specialty being spoolers, hosiery winders and 

quillers. The present officers are: Charles Payne, president; Clinton F. 

Payne, secretary and treasurer. 

/. M. The J. M. Carpenter Tap and Die Company, manufacturers of 

Carpenter ta p S anc l dies, was established in 1870 and incorporated in 1 891. 

^ The business was established by J. M. Carpenter, who is now president 

Die and treasurer of the corporation. A. H. Wheeler is secretary and 

Company ■ . 

r - assistant treasurer. 

A- E. A. E. Tenney Manufacturing Company was established in 1885. 
Tenney ^he firm was originally William Jeffers and Tenney. Mr. Tenney 
l f a . ct ~ continued the business following the death of Mr. Jeffers. The firm 
r UJl ] I manufactures general machinery and specialties. 

The plant of the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company has grown from 
a very small beginning. It now occupies 137,243 square feet of floor 
space. The company manufactures bolts, cold punched nuts and a 
Pawtucket l ar ge variety of kindred articles, including all kinds of cold punching, 
Manufact- ^ok an( j co \^ punched nut machinery of their own design, and a 
; large line of special machinery. George H. Webb has in all cases 
' either originated or supervised the designing of all machinery marketed 
by this company and has from the inception of the company been 
the only officer with practical knowledge. Since the autumn of 1881, 
Mr. Webb has devoted all his time to the building up of this plant. 
In 1882 the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company was incorporated 
by Stephen A. Jenks, Alvin F. Jenks, John R. Fales, George H. 
Webb and George H. Fowler. Stephen A. Jenks served as presi- 
dent from the time the plant was started until his death in 1913, 
and George H. Fowler served as treasurer until his death in 1895. 
Mr. Webb has held the office of agent from the incorporation of the 
company until the present time, and since the death of Mr. Fowler 
the additional office of treasurer. The present officers are: LeRoy 
Fales, president; N. Howard Easton, vice-president; Elton G. Cush- 
man, secretary. 

There is much in the life of George H. Webb that is interesting and 
inspiring, for he fought against great odds — and won. He was left 
an orphan at the age of ten and a half years, when he was forced to 
leave the village school. He went to work at the Simmonsville 
Cotton Mills where he remained until the mills were closed during 
the panic of the winter of 1857. He worked for a dollar a week from 
five in the morning until seven at night. As a boy and as a man 
he has had to fight his own way, but he always had before him the 

42 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 









From a Painting 



Collection of Charles S. Foster 



THE OLD JONES SCHOOL-HOUSE 

Main Street, foot of Park Place, site of the present Cole Building 



determination to succeed, and not to remain where the circumstances 
of his youth had placed him. His first work in Pawtucket was done 
in the winter of 1864, when he worked as a file grinder for the Ameri- 
can File Company. In March, 1866, he entered the employ of 
William H. Haskell and remained with him for more than sixteen 
years. While in his employ he began the improving and designing 
of bolt and nut machinery. The first machine he brought out 
was a tool grinder, and this machine is still made by the Pawtucket 
Manufacturing Company. For the designing of this machine and 
the improvement of others he received two hundred and fifty dollars. 
With this he bought a lot in the brush in the section since known as 
Webb Street, and there, after working-hours, he dug the cellar of his 
first house. Mr. Webb has taken out nineteen patents. Some of 
his most valuable improvements he has never patented. 

The Narragansett Machine Company was established in 1882 for 
the purpose of manufacturing foot-power lathes. At first these were 
built by the A. E. Tenney Manufacturing Company of Pawtucket. 

Among the other things manufactured during these earlier years Narraga\ 



was a home exercising-machine. This developed later into the mak- 
ing of gymnasium apparatus. In a few years this new industry grew 
to such an extent that it became and has continued to be the princi- 
pal feature of the company's business. Its product in this line has 
been shipped to almost every country in the civilized world. 



Machine 
Company 



43 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



The company was incorporated in 1889; and in the spring of 1890, 
having completely outgrown its enlarged quarters in the Sprague 
Building, it moved into its new factory in South Woodlawn, Paw- 
tucket. In 1895 the firm added to its other work the manufacturing 
of car-fenders for the Consolidated Car Fender Company. These 
safety devices for electric street railway cars are known to almost 
every electric railway system, and have become the standard through- 
Buys the ou t the world. The Hood & Rice Company of Central Falls was 
Jioodp bought out in 1902 by this concern. The principal products of the 
P lce Hood & Rice Company were tennis rackets, automatic wood-turning, 
y and enamelling. In 1904 the building of printing presses for the Bab- 
cock Printing Press Manufacturing Company was begun, and has since 
grown extensively. Another large branch of the company's business 
is the making of steel lockers for gymnasium, office, and factory use. 
This industry has grown until it is to-day, next to the gymnasium 
business, the largest item in its total output. It is doubtful if another 
factory can be found where, under one roof and one management, so 
diversified a line of manufacturing is carried on. 

The company has grown from the manufacturing of a single article 
in rented quarters of a thousand square feet of floor space to the manu- 
facturing of many things in a factory of its own covering nearly four 
acres of land. Starting with a capital of a few dollars, it is to-day 
using a capital of over a million dollars and giving employment to 
upward of five hundred people. The officers are: John A. Arnold, 
president; James W. Thornley, secretary and sales manager; John A. 
Arnold, treasurer; A. J. Thornley, vice-president and general manager. 
The Pawtucket Spinning Ring Company was established in 1884 
pinning ^ j ] in B 00 th and incorporated in 1899. It manufactures spinning- 
Comtanv rm 2 s - The works are located in Central Falls. Mrs. Mary Booth, 
president; Mrs. Mary J. Andrew, secretary; J. A. McAllen, treasurer. 
Collyer p^ Collyer Insulated Wire Company was established by Mr. C. H. 
m ™ e - Bowen, incorporated in Massachusetts in 1891 and reincorporated 
Comtanv m *^94 * n Rhode Island. A great deal of the machinery used in this 
" plant is built in the Collyer Machine Shop. 
rnillips T^g Philips Insulated Wire Company, the product of which is 
SU JL? bare and insulated wire, sold all over the world, was incorporated in 
Company l8 9 2 - H. F. Bassett, president; H. O. Phillips, treasurer; E. B. Phil- 
„ ,. „ lips, secretary. The business was established by H. O. Phillips in 1884. 
, ' ■ The H. & B. American Machine Company was organized in i8cn, 

Machine an< ^ Jt 1S one °^ t " ie l ar g est builders of textile machinery in this country. 
Company ^ ne °ffi cers are: C. E. Riley, president; E. R. Richardson, treasurer; 
E. L. Martin, secretary. 
■oss erg p^ ]\/[ oss berg Wrench Company was incorporated in 1894. The 
Comtanv P^ ant 1S located in Chace's Lane, Central Falls. Warp stops for looms, 
drop wires for warp stops, both electrical and mechanical, Sim-Pull 
countershafts, and Right-in-Sight copyholders are made here. The 
officers are: Simon W. Wardwell, president; Edwin C. Smith, secre- 
tary, treasurer, and manager. An allied corporation is the Wardwell 
Braiding Machine Company, which manufactures the Wardwell High 
Speed Braiding Alachine. The officers are: Simon W. Wardwell, presi- 

44 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

dent and manager; Edwin C. Smith, secretary and treasurer; and 
Carl V. J. Christensen, general superintendent. 

The Excelsior Loom-reed Works was incorporated in 1897. Loom- Excelsior 
reeds and wire heddles are made by it. The officers are: Edward Loom-reed 
Adamson, president and treasurer; Joseph Adamson, secretary. Works 

Covering more than ten acres of land, the Potter & Johnston p ot i er 1$ 
Machine Company is the largest machinery plant in Pawtucket and Johnston 
one of the most modern in the world. The business was incorporated Machine 
in 1899 and reorganized in 1901. James C. Potter, president of the Company 
corporation, has not only added many improvements to textile and 
other machinery now in use, but he has invented many new machines 
and has taken out nearly seventy patents on textile machinery alone, 
all of which are in operation to-day. Mr. Potter was born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, and received his education there. He has been mechanical 
and expert engineer for the firm of H. J. H. King & Co. in Glasgow, 
engineer of the Anchor Line Steamship Company, and at the head of 
one of the departments of the Vale of Clyde Engineering Works. 
These offices were held by him shortly after he had completed his 
education in Scotland. On coming to America, he was manager of 
the Whitehead & Atherton Machine Company of Lowell, Massachu- 
setts. He organized in Pawtucket in 1887 the Potter & Atherton 
Machine Company, starting the plant with about a score of men. In 
six years 250 men were on the pay-roll, and their machinery was used 
all over the country. The Howard & Bullough Machine Company 
of Pawtucket was organized by Mr. Potter in 1893. The company 
manufactures high-grade machinery, — tools, shapers, turret lathes, 
automatic chucking and turning machines, — and ships it all over the 
world. The officers are: James C. Potter, president; W. Wallace 
Potter, vice-president; John Johnston, treasurer; Earl H. Roberts, 
secretary. 

The Hemphill Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1906. Hemphill 
An extensive business in the manufacture of knitting-machines is Manufact- 
carried on by it. The officers are: Walter W. Radcliffe, president; uring 
George L. Hancock, secretary; A. M. Hancock, treasurer; John Company 
Lawson, vice-president and general manager. 

The Sellew Machine Tool Company was incorporated in 1910. Sellew 
The principal promoter of the company was Ernest B. Sellew, who Machine 
is the executive head of the business to-day. In addition to the T°°l 
manufacture of the "Universal Shaping Machine," special machinery Company 
of all descriptions is made at the plant. The company makes a 
specialty of a standard line of adjustable as well as special multiple 
drill-heads which have been developed and patented. 

The Pawtucket Screw Company was incorporated in 1910. J. A. Pawtucket 
Taudvin is president, and Oris C. Hill is secretary and treasurer. Screw 

The Standard Engineering Works was incorporated in 1912 in Company 
Woonsocket. It moved to Pawtucket in June, 1914. The present Standard 
officers are: Herbert Gould Beede, president; Albert A. Jenks, vice- Engineering 
president; J. Richmond Fales, treasurer; B. M. Mills, secretary. Works 
They manufacture hand milling-machines and do general machine- 
work. 

45 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Photo Collection of Charles S. Foster 

THE PAWTUCKET HAIR CLOTH MILL AND CENTRAL AVENUE AND CROSS 
STREET BRIDGE ABOUT 1900 

Stephans The Stephans Nut and Bolt Company, incorporated in 1915, raanu- 
Nut and factures bolts, nuts, and coach-screws. The officers are: Jacob 

Bolt Stephans, president; Albert C. Stephans, secretary and treasurer. 
Company The Mackenzie-Walton Company manufactures seamless wire and 
Mackenzie- tubes. A. J. Thornley, president; J. W. Thornley, vice-president; 
Walton John M. Mackenzie, treasurer; Joseph J. Walton, secretary. 
Company Drinking-fountains, stools, and hardware specialties are the prod- 
H. F. Jenks ucts f tne n Y. Jenks Company. Dr. A. B. Crowe is president, and 
Company p_ ^ Thomas is secretary and treasurer. 

Other companies that manufacture iron are: The Champion Horse 
Shoe Company; J. D. Crosby Company, wire manufacturers; Joseph H. 
O'Neil, manufacturer of handscrews; American Supply Company, 
manufacturers of mill supplies; Standard Nut and Bolt Company, 
F. & B. Suter, manufacturers of loom-reeds; Seth Wilkinson, manu- 
facturer and washer, and Collins Brothers, machinists. 



The 

American 

Hair Cloth 

Company 



THE STORY OF THE MAKING OF HAIR CLOTH IN 
PAWTUCKET 

The Old Slater Mill, the mother of cotton-spinning in America, gave 
shelter to another distinguished company which was known to the world 
as thePawtucket Hair Cloth Company, established in 1856. Freeman 
Baxter, who had some knowledge of the manufacture of hair cloth, 
was the principal promoter of the enterprise. David Ryder & Co., 
also James Ryder, furnished the capital, and associated with them 

46 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

were George L. and Alfred H. Littlefield. Innumerable difficulties 
were encountered by these men. The industry was a new one, and 
the foreign manufacturers, in the hope of putting the Pawtucket 
company out of business, reduced their prices for hair cloth. The 
Pawtucket Hair Cloth Company, however, had an advantage over 
Europe from the fact that they were weaving hair cloth by power- 
looms, whereas in Europe the old hand-loojns were employed. The 
power-looms were fed by hand, and soon it was found that, in order 
to make the business a success, someway must be invented to make 
them self-feeding. 

About 1861 Isaac C. Lindsley, of Providence, who had been experi- j saac q 
menting on a self-feeding power-loom, was asked to come to Paw- Lindsley's 
tucket and perfect his invention. Mr. Lindsley succeeded in inventing Invention 
an automatic attachment, for which he obtained a patent. Also a of the 
patent was procured for a stop-motion, which was disputed by Rufus J. Hair Cloth 
Stafford. Mr. Ryder purchased this patent, and the way for hair- Loom 
seating was once more clear. Various business men and inventors 
to-day frequently assert that this machine for making hair cloth is 
one of the most marvellous contrivances they have ever seen. "Mr. 
Lindsley was a jeweller and of an inventive turn of mind," says Mr. 
Grieve, "and his attention was called to the former method of 
supplying the single hair to the loom by hand to produce the hair 
cloth. He conceived the idea of a machine which should automati- 
cally select the single hair from the mass; so locating the mechanism 
in connection with other parts of the power-loom as to present the 
hair in and to the loom. After many years of experimenting, this 
was successfully accomplished. In the production of hair cloth the 
selection of the hair and its proper presentation to the loom is 
absolutely essential. When this does not happen, the production is 
temporarily suspended, and the notched lance devised by Mr. Lindsley 
secures the single hair from the bunch of horse-tail hair, and presents 
it properly for the production of cloth. To this invention is due a 
large portion of the success of the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Company." 

A stock company was organized in 1861, and General Olney Arnold 
was made treasurer. The Old Slater Mill became too small for the 
business, and the plant was moved to its present location in Central 
Falls. Up to this time the business had been carried on in a small 
way; and in 1863 Daniel G. Littlefield was made agent, and with 
Mr. Lindsley perfected the machinery and began to build up the 
business. Charles E. Pervear was Mr. Littlefield's successor. 

The present company — a consolidation of the Pawtucket Hair 
Cloth Company and the American Hair Cloth Padding Company — 
was incorporated in 1893. Hair-seatings and crinolines are exten- 
sively manufactured. The plant is equipped with 603 narrow looms. 
The officers are: E. N. Littlefield, president; J. Milton Payne, sec- 
retary and treasurer; Edward T. Dolan, agent and general manager. 



47 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



First 
Worsted 
Goods 
manufact- 
ured in 
Pawtucket 



D. Goff 
y Sons 



Lorraine 

Manufact- 
uring 
Company 



THE STORY OF WORSTEDS IN PAWTUCKET 

In the State of Rhode Island in 1810 there were but twelve worsted- 
mills, and as late as 1832 a canvass disclosed but nineteen. While the 
War of 1812 lasted, the American woolen-mills flourished; but, as 
soon as the war closed, prices fell, owing to a great importation of 
woolens from abroad superior in quality to those made in this country. 
Woolen-mills throughout the States were closed. President Madison 
at his second inauguration as President of the United States, on 
March 4, 1813, wore a suit of woolen material which was manufact- 
ured in a Pawtucket factory. It is said that this was the first time 
a high official had worn a suit of American-made cloth. Naturally, 
it attracted considerable attention. In 1820 the Pawtucket Worsted 
Company, which had been formed for the manufacture of fine vestings, 
presented Nehemiah R. Knight, who had been elected United States 
senator, with a vest of its own manufacture. As this was the first 
specimen of American-made worsted displayed in Washington, it 
excited much interest, and was made a subject of comment throughout 
the country. 

The first worsted braid-mill started in this country was established 
in 1861 by Darius Goff. His son Darius L. Goff, then just out of 
college, was taken into the business by his father, and the name of 
D. Goff & Son adopted. Until 1864 the business was carried on in 
a small way; and at that time the firm took the old stone mill on 
the site of their present location, and began making the Goff braid, 
which eventually became known throughout the country. In 1872 
Lyman B. Goff, now vice-president of D. Goff & Sons, was admitted 
to the firm, which thereafter came to be known by the latter name. 
The same year the present plant was erected on the site of the old 
stone mill. About 1877 a change was made in putting up the goods 
for market, when Mr. Goff conceived the idea of rolling the braid and 
fastening it with a wire clasp. This form was substituted for the 
previous stick form. It was predicted that the change would not 
prove popular with the trade; but the demand proved to be greater 
than ever, and several firms began to imitate the invention. 

The manufacture of mohair plushes for upholstering car-seats, 
which had not been made before in this country or in England, was 
begun by D. Goff & Sons in 1882. The manufacture of this fabric 
was so difficult that the firm sent a representative to various parts of 
Europe to procure machinery and information. The search proved 
fruitless; and the firm decided to solve the problem for themselves, 
the result being that they manufactured mohair plushes in every way 
equal to the goods of foreign make. 

D. Goff & Sons manufacture to-day alpaca linings, the "Goff 
cloth," dress goods, and worsted and mercerized skirt braids. The 
firm was incorporated in 1884. The officers are: Darius L. Goff, 
president; Lyman B. Goff, vice-president; Darius Goff, treasurer. 

The Lorraine Manufacturing Company, concerning which a fuller 
account may be found in "The Story of the Manufacture of Cotton 
in Pawtucket," in exhibitions has been awarded several prizes for its 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 





From a Photo Taken for Slater Trust Company 

THE DAGGETT HOUSE, SLATER PARK, ERECTED IN 1685 

worsted dress goods. The plant has 35,000 spindles. The company 
was incorporated in 1896. The officers are: Frank A. Sayles, presi- 
dent; Alfred M. Coats, vice-president; James R. McColl, secretary 
and treasurer. 

THE STORY OF THE SILK INDUSTRY IN PAWTUCKET 

Joseph Ott, when he came to Pawtucket in 1888, established the Royal 
silk industry in the old Hicks Building near East Avenue. He began Weaving 
the industry by operating eight looms. Three years later the business Company 
was incorporated under the name of the Royal Weaving Company, 
Darius Goff and Daniel Littlefield having interests in the firm. After 
the plant was removed to the mill of the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Com- 
pany, the business was enlarged. Finally the present buildings were 
erected, and lighted from the roof, — a thing particularly desirable 
in the weaving of silk. Mr. Ott was born in Trochtelfingen, in the 
district of Hohenzollern, Germany, in 1861. He came to America 
to escape military duty when he was about twenty-three years old. 
After working for several companies, he came to Pawtucket, where 
he was employed by the Slater Cotton Company, from which he 
retired to begin the manufacture of silk. The Royal Weaving Com- 
pany has the largest weave-shed in the world. Upward of three 
thousand persons are employed at the plant, which manufactures 
dress and lining silks and satins. Cotton-backed satins, sleeve linings, 



49 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



Hamlet 

Textile 

Company 



Leader 

Weaving 

Company 



Eastern 

Silk 

Company 



and yarns are also made. The company was incorporated in 1889. 
The officers are: D. L. Goff, president; Charles E. Pervear, secre- 
tary and treasurer; Joseph Ott, agent. 

Dress linings, lining satins and silks, are manufactured by the 
Hamlet Textile Company, which was incorporated in 1900 in Maine. 
The chief mill is located at Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The com- 
pany operates a mill in Pawtucket. Frank A. Sayles, president; 
C. O. Read, vice-president; A. E. Jenckes, treasurer; Edward E. 
Dodge, assistant treasurer and secretary; Edward Wooley, agent. 

The Leader Weaving Company, manufacturers of lining silks and 
other silk fabrics, was organized in 1905, since which time the concern 
has grown from a start of fifty looms to a plant of 300 broad silk 
looms, housed in a mill of modern construction, with machinery elec- 
trically driven. The officers are: Herbert O. White, president; H. 
Arthur White, vice-president; C. J. Fillmore, secretary and treasurer. 

Broad silk-weaving is carried on by the Eastern Silk Company. 
The company was incorporated in 1914. Edward Fowler, president 
and manager; William Roberts, secretary; Thomas Barritt, treasurer. 



Lace-making 

established 

in 

Pazvtucket 



THE STORY OF LACE-MAKING IN PAWTUCKET 

Remarkable advances have been made in the lace industry since it 
was started in 1589 by a student at Oxford College; but these ad- 
vances have been principally confined to the Old World, which sur- 
passes the New in workmanship and machinery. The lace-making 
industry in the United States is in its infancy. As early as 1826 a 
beautiful lace dress was made in Pawtucket, now the lace-making 
centre of the United States; and this dress was exhibited at the 
Rhode Island State Fair, where it attracted much attention and 
comment, and eventually was purchased by President Adams. At 
various intervals after this there were spasmodic attempts made in 
other parts of the country to establish lace plants. A small one 
was started about 1887, which proved unsuccessful. About 1910 
the late Senator Nelson Aldrich, of Rhode Island, was influential in 
having measures taken to remove for a given time the duty from lace- 
machines. Up to this time the lack of adequate machinery had greatly 
handicapped American lace-makers. 

This was the beginning of a great lace-making era in the United 
States and since 1910 the industry has flourished and many new 
plants have been established in Pawtucket. "Even so," admits Mr. 
H. C. Whritner, of the Regina Lace Company, "we now manufact- 
ure in America less than 20 per cent, of the laces used in this country. 
Here we manufacture and sell Laces at from 1 cent a yard up to $2.50 
a yard. We make cheap Vals and also some of the finest silk flounces. 
The industry is a seasonable proposition for novelty mills and a staple 
proposition on the staple laces, such as Vals and Clunys. The lace 
industry is considerably different from other industries, because there 
is no way, for the average retail buyer, by which the product of any 
given mill, whether European or American, can be distinguished. . . . 
The lace industry requires a regular staff of sketchers, draftsmen, and 



5° 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 




From a Plwto 



Collection of Charles S. Foster 



THE LEFAVOUR BLOCK 



Main and High Streets, when it was occupied by the Pacific National Bank and the 
Pawtucket Institution for Savings 



designers. That large machine," continued Mr. Whritner, designat- 
ing one of a number that were rapidly producing yards of lace, "will 
do the work of ten men. It is worth approximately $10,000, and is 
set up with 17,000 threads, which process required the time of four 
men for a full month." 

The largest lace-making plant in the United States is the American 
Textile Company. Cotton and silk trimming-laces are manufact- 
ured here. The company was incorporated in 1899. There are 66 
lace-machines at the plant, and about five hundred employees work 
there. The officers are: Lyman B. Goff, president; Morris F. Conant, 
secretary and treasurer. 

The Seekonk Lace Company was incorporated in 1909, and manu- 
factures laces and nets. The officers are: Thomas H. Tarbox, 
president; J. H. Crossley, vice-president; Frank G. Rowley, treas- 
urer; George R. Ramsbottom, secretary. 

Laces, insertions, and nets are manufactured by the Regina Lace 
Company. The company was incorporated in 1910. The officers 
are: E. Howard George, president; James M. Abbot, vice-president; 
H. C. Whritner, secretary and treasurer. 

La Tulia Lace Company was incorporated in 1914. Laces are 
made extensively at the plant. The officers are: E. P. Watson, 

Si 



American 

Textile 

Company 



Seekonk 

Lace 

Company 

Regina 

Lace 

Company 

La Tulia 

Lace 

Company 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



president; Louis Lescault, treasurer; Victor L. Duhaime, secretary; 
Edgar Renault, vice-president and superintendent. 
Cadoza Cotton and silk laces are made by the Cadoza Sales Company, 
Sales which was incorporated in 1914. The officers are: Louis Hamburger, 
Company president; Thomas L. Pryor, secretary and treasurer. 



Rhode 

Island 

Card Board 

Company 



Adam 

Sutclijfe 

Company 



THE STORY OF THE CARDBOARD AND PAPER INDUSTRY 

IN PAWTUCKET 

The cardboard industry in Pawtucket was originally started by 
Ray Potter about 1844. The old plant in which he began manufact- 
uring on a small scale was off of East Avenue, back of where the 
Slater Trust Building now stands. The industry steadily increased, 
and in ten years had grown to proportions that were large for the times. 
Mr. Potter sold his interest in the early '6o's to Henry Dexter and 
George H. Clark, and the concern became known as the Rhode Island 
Card Board Company. It is the only plant in Pawtucket that exclu- 
sively manufactures cardboard, and it was the first establishment in 
America and probably in the world that made cardboard by machin- 
ery. In the early days of the business the stock was pasted on sheets, 
and one man could paste from 500 to 1,000 sheets a day. The firm 
made great progress at the time the paper collar was in vogue, and 
the profit made was enormous. The old records show that on a capi- 
tal of $27,000 the firm made a profit of $89,000. A price list of 1863 
shows that the same stock which sells to-day for $12 a thousand sold 
then for $80 a thousand. 

The shop was removed in 1879 from its location on East Avenue 
to the building on Exchange Street. The first building was 50 by 100 
feet, and from a plant with twenty thousand feet of floor space the 
company has grown to such an extent that it occupies more than 
a hundred thousand feet of floor space. In 1889, at the time when, 
the Emersons began to hold interests in the business, the output of 
the plant was about eight thousand pounds a day. Now it is more 
than ninety thousand pounds. Eventually, Mr. Clark sold his 
interest in the firm, in order that he might travel; and Mr. Dexter, 
who usually followed his partner's inclinations, did the same. The 
company was incorporated in May, 1886. Every class of combined 
boards is made at the plant. The largest part of the stock goes for 
photographers' materials and art calendars. The stock of five or 
six of the largest calendar houses in the country is supplied by the 
Rhode Island Card Board Company. All kinds of tags are made, 
and wedding stationery and board for boxes. Goods are shipped 
throughout the United States, to Australia, and to Cuba. During 
the last twenty-five years, through various panics, the plant has run 
full time. The stock goes to so many different lines that financial 
upheavals have not affected the company. The present officers are: 
Lowell Emerson, president; L. Pierce Emerson, secretary and treasurer. 

Printing and lithographing are carried on by the Adam Sutcliffe 
Company, which was incorporated in 1888. The officers are: Samuel 

52 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



M. Conant, president; Robert Cushman, secretary; Adam Sutcliffe, 
treasurer. 

E. L. Freeman Company was incorporated in 1906. They are 
printers, lithographers, book-binders, blank-book makers, engravers, 
and stationers. Joseph W. Freeman is president and treasurer. 

The Hope Paper Company, Inc., carries on an extensive manufact- 
ure of coated papers for the box trade. The business is managed 
by M. N. Linton, secretary and treasurer. 

The Pawtucket Glazed Paper Company, an old established business, 
was incorporated in January, 1914, and is a large paper coater. The 
officers are: Hugh Linton, president and treasurer; Hugh E. A. 
Linton, vice-president; Jesse Linton, assistant treasurer; Carroll M. 
Linton, secretary. 

The John W. Little Company does an extensive business in mill 
printing, gummed labels, sample cards, and tag making. John W. 
Little is owner of the company. 

The officers of the National Coated Paper Corporation, a successful 
coating mill, are: Roger Tileston, president; Arlington G. Post, manager. 

The Blackstone Glazed Paper Company manufactures coated and 
glazed papers. The officers are: Edward J. Rogan, president; Charles 
H. Lewis, vice-president and manager; James E. Brennan, treasurer 
and secretary. 

The Jacob N. Polsey Company, of 41 Bayley Street, manufactures 
boxes. Other box manufacturers are the Standard Paper Box Com- 
pany and the Albert Frost Paper Box Company, 448 High Street. 

The current publications of Pawtucket are the Pawtucket Evening 
Times, the Pawtucket Chronicle; the Chronicle Printing Company 
is an outgrowth of work established by the Pawtucket Chronicle prior 
to 1855; and Le Jean Baptiste. 



E. L. 

Freeman 
Company 

Hope 
Paper 

Company 

Pawtucket 
Glazed 
Paper 
Company 

John W. 

Little 

Company 

National 

Coated 

Paper 

Corporation 

Blackstone 

Glazed 

Paper 

Company 

Jacob N. 

Polsey 

Company 



OTHER DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES OF PAWTUCKET 

The Atwood, Crawford Company has the record of being the oldest 
spool-manufacturing company in the country. It was established 
in 1848 by Robert Cushman, who began in a small way the manu- 
facture of spools for winding spool cotton and silk. The business, 
under the name of R. & G. Cushman, was moved to Central Falls, 
Rhode Island, in 1850, and in 1858 was settled at its present location, 
5 Central Avenue, Pawtucket. The company was succeeded later 
by Cushman, Phillips & Co., and in 1874 by Atwood, Crawford & Co. 
It was incorporated under the present name in 1890. The business 
to-day is under the management of the son of its founder. A great 
variety of wood products in the line of spools for spool cotton, silk, 
wire, and tinsel, braider bobbins and web rolls for the narrow-fabric 
manufacturers, and winder bobbins and braider bobbins for the silk 
manufacturers are made; and much novelty wood-turning is done. 

The yearly consumption of lumber has grown from a few cords of 
white birch poles brought in by neighboring farmers to 1,250,000 
feet. The lumber is mostly in the form of white birch squares, which 
are shipped from Maine and New Hampshire. 



The 

Atwood, 
Crawford 
Company 



53 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 



J.O. 

Draper 

Company 



George H. 
Fuller 
y Son 

Company 

L. B. 

Darling 
Fertilizer 
Company 



Perry Oil 
Company 

P. E. 

Thayer 
Company 



Other 
Pawtucket 
Companies 



Textile soaps of all kinds are manufactured by the J. 0. Draper Com- 
pany. The business was established in 1861 by James 0. Draper and 
Abner Atwood, and was carried on under the name of Draper & Atwood 
until 1867. After several changes in the firm the name of J. O. 
Draper Company was adopted. The firm was incorporated in 1904. 
The present officers are: A. W. Stanley, president and treasurer;- 
George B. Draper, secretary; G. Bradford Draper, superintendent. 

The business of George H. Fuller & Son Company, manufacturers of 
jewellers' findings, was established in 1858 by George H. Fuller. It 
is one of the pioneer houses in the country in its line and one of the 
largest concerns of its kind in Rhode Island. 

Oils, tallow, glue, and fertilizers are the products of L. B. Darling 
Fertilizer Company. Lucius B. Darling began the business in a small 
way about 1865, and the plant was gradually developed until most 
of the bones collected in Providence and Pawtucket and thereabouts 
were consumed. The company was incorporated in 1889; and Mr. 
Darling, the first president, continued at the head of the firm until 
his death. Frank R. Ames is the present manager. 

The Perry Oil Company was established by R. K. Miller in 1869, 
and the company takes its name from the man who discovered the 
oil and soap that are the principal products of the firm. 

This business was founded in 1870 under the name of Thayer 
Brothers, Philo E. Thayer and Ellis Thayer being the owners. Later, 
in 1880, Philo E. Thayer purchased his brother's interest, and the 
concern continued under the name of P. E. Thayer & Co. until 1907, 
when it was incorporated under the name of P. E. Thayer Company, 
P. E. Thayer being the president and treasurer and B. F. Searll sec- 
retary. Mr. P. E. Thayer died in 1908, and since then the business 
has been carried on by B. Frank Searll, who has been connected with 
the firm for thirty years. In the latter part of 1915 the interest of 
P. E. Thayer's heirs was purchased by B. Frank Searll and his son 
Earl B. Searll, B. Frank Searll becoming president and treasurer and 
Earl B. Searll secretary and manager. The company manufactures 
mill, machine, and jewellers' brushes, and the goods are shipped to all 
parts of the United States. 

Among the many other industries of the present are: R. Bolle Manu- 
facturing Company, 11 Webb Street, manufacturers of jewelry 
novelties; W. R. Cobb & Co., 244 Pine Street, jewellers; H. M. M. 
Manufacturing Company, 40—50 Bayley Street, manufacturing 
jewellers; Sizing and Finishing Products Company, chemicals; 
William R. Toole Company, 178 Main Street, hardware, mill and 
electric supplies; Pawtucket Sash and Blind Company, 24-28 
Mason Street; Roco Supply Company, plumbers' supplies; Savoie 
Rubber Company, 18 Fales Street, Central Falls, rubber cements 
and accessories; New England Machine and Electric Company, 
machinists and general contractors; Lyons Delany Company, coffee 
and spice millers; Charles R. Bucklin Belting Company, Slater Avenue, 
belting and lace leather; Fred J. Bancroft, 35 Bayley Street, tennis 
rackets; Oscar A. Jillson, 156 Front Street, tanner; E. Kent, See- 
konk, Mass., athletic goods; Pawtucket Mordant Company, chemicals; 



54 



PAWTUCKET PAST AND PRESENT 

the American Electrical Lamp Works; the Bryan March Electrical 
Works, the Central Falls Carbon Lamp Works, the Central Falls 
Mazda and the Rhode Island Glass Works (General Electric Co.); 
Pohlson Galleries' Gift Shop, manufacturers novelties, 255 Main 
Street; William Roscow, manufacturing chemist; Frank E. Tingley, 
sash and blinds, 180 Weeden Street; Wetherhead, Thompson & 
Co., 447 Mill Street, tanners; J. W. Spoerer, cigar manufacturer, 
22 Wheaton Street; F. F. Follett & Sons Company, cigar manu- 
facturers, 119 Brook Street; James Flynn & Co., cigar manufacturers, 
45 Washington Street; Phinney Brothers, cigars; May Mora, confec- 
tionery manufacturer; Lonsdale Baking Company, Saylesville; 
John Jenkinson, brass foundry, 139 Clay Street, Central Falls. 

Eureka Dyeing and Bleaching Company, 31 Japonica Street; Chute 
Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of handkerchiefs; Hesse 
Manufacturing Company, narrow woolen fabrics, Valley Falls; 
Keach & Brown Manufacturing Company, underwear and shirtwaists, 
Valley Falls; Frank Wood Manufacturing Company, braid, Valley 
Falls; Abedare Weaving Company, 4 Cross Street, Central Falls; 
Bengal Silk Mills, 82 Hardwin Street, Central Falls; Blackstone 
Braid Company; J. W. Greenhalge Manufacturing Company, yarns, 
129 Front Street; Stuart Boston Company; Star Braiding Company; 
River Spinning Company, Hamlet Village, woolen yarns; Anchor 
Webbing Company, Woonsocket, narrow fabrics; Blackstone 
Specialty Company, 18 Broadway, calico printer engravers; Cher- 
mack Manufacturing Company, Main Street, corner Carver; Cope- 
land Mill Supply Company, mill supplies and hardware, 424 Central 
Avenue; Crown Confection Company, 246 Main Street, confectionery 
manufacturers. 

We have given a glimpse of Pawtucket's industries. We have ^ 1 
followed the laying of the city's foundation on a corner-stone of iron 
and have scanned the flashes of invitation that were sent to other j 
settlers from the forge of Joseph Jenks, Jr. 

The iron industry which first made the place famous has long given 
the town a commanding place as one of the great manufacturing 
centres of the world. Pawtucket has reached heights of which Samuel 
Slater never dreamed. Industry after industry has sought it, and has 
proved a source of great creative power and wealth of material output, 
in many instances second to none in the world. It is a city rich in 
industrial lore, in inventions, in manufactures. Progressing year by 
year, to its wealth of industry it adds inventors who are constantly 
perfecting and originating machinery and manufacturing facilities. 

Other men have labored and we have taken up their labors where 
they left off, as well as entered into the benefits which have come 
to us through their work. What shall the future say of Pawtucket's 
industries? Let us hope that it will have the same commendations 
for us that we have for those of the past, and may we achieve in the 
same spirit that they have achieved — thus working to the betterment 
of Pawtucket, and through Pawtucket, for the benefit of the country 
and the world. 

55 



Backward 
nd 




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LOCK AND KEYS OF THE OLD SLATER MILL 



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